IT education compulsory at secondary level by 2013

Reiterating the present government's commitment to building Digital Bangladesh, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad yesterday said IT education would be made compulsory at secondary level by 2013.
"As per its election manifesto, the government is pledge-bound to build Digital Bangladesh by 2021. To this end, information technology (IT) education will be made compulsory by 2013 and primary level by 2021," he said while inaugurating the nine-day Digital ICT Fair-2009 in the city.
The information minister also said that the ICT taskforce formed by the previous Awami League government would be reactivated and high-tech parks and IT villages would be set up in the country for flourishing the ICT sector.
"To keep pace with the present time, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already taken various steps for flourishing the ICT sector to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh," he said.
Multiplan Centre Shop Owners Association has arranged the fair at the Multiplan Centre at Elephant Road in the city with the slogan `Let ICT be a Tool for Changing Days'.
With convenor of the fair Tawfique Ehsan in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by FBCCI President Annisul Haque, Chairman of SME Foundation Aftab Ul Islam, President of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association Amir Hossain Khan and Chief Adviser of Greater Elephant Road Shop Owners Association and former parliament member Mostfa Mohsin Montu.
To reach the IT facilities to the people's doorsteps, the information minister said the government has distributed computers to many schools of the country and the students have already started getting its benefits.
"The government has also taken initiatives for providing ICT training to the unemployed youths to create job opportunities for them," he said, seeking cooperation of the ICT entrepreneurs to this end.
The information minister also said the government cannot do everything alone and all should come forward to take the country ahead.
"With the cooperation of all, we want to build Bangladesh as a non-communal liberal democratic country to ensure good governance, social justice and welfare of the people," he said.
Mentioning that the ICT sector is playing an important role in taking the country forward, the information minister called upon the ICT experts to familiarise the people with modern digital devices.
He urged the organisers of the fair to keep the prices of computers and its accessories at tolerable level so that maximum people can purchase those.
The information minister also said the government believes in free flow of information and to ensure it the Right to Information Act was already passed in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Organisers said about 400 shops have been set up from the fourth floor to the tenth floor on an area of about one lakh square feet at the Multiplan Centre, the largest IT market in the country.
The entrance fee of the fair has been fixed at Tk 10. However, school students can visit the fair without any fee. The fair will remain open from 10:00am to 8:00pm everyday till November 15.