The posts, telecom and information technology minister has rightly said that our education system has to be digitised if the youth of today are to be productive citizens in the future. This expectation is actually a call for immediate overhauling of the traditional academic system in our schools and colleges. If Bangladesh is to reach middle income status by 2021, then the country has to adapt to all the changes that are the features of other progressive societies.

Our education system still revolves around memorizing, with acknowledgement based on the attainment of high grades. The world outside has moved away from the grades centric education system, attaching more importance to practical knowledge which triggers innovation, creativity and original ideas.

In the current global scenario, entrepreneurship is deemed a cornerstone of an advancing country. New ideas and approaches that may seem eccentric at first are given due attention. Sadly, in Bangladesh, the orthodox outlook persists with the creative minds often ostracized as the rebel or the social heretic.

Digitising education does not mean more emphasis on computer based skills but also the usage of cutting plus bleeding edge technology to carve out new ways to revolutionaise modern day living. A solid example can be the mobile app based ride hailing service which, despite some controversies, has become a prominent feature around the globe. Already, this format has spawned local services in Bangladesh, based on motorcycles. While this is laudable, in the end, the idea did not take shape here; it was borrowed.

The sole reason why brand new ideas stumble is because, subconsciously, this society is averse to approaches that threaten to upend ‘conventional was of thinking.’ However, conventions are not absolute, as we see from the examples of other nations. Digital education will allow our young hone their skills to compete in the international job scenario.

Skilled workers from developing nations are always in demand in the developed nations provided the men and women are familiar with the latest mode of technology and aware of modern day corporate cultures.

A call for total revamping of our academic system has been going around for some time along with the demand for making education fun instead of a pressure. Learning will only become enjoyable when unnecessary subjects are cut off, the academic curriculum streamlined with more emphasis given to original ideas plus creative impulses.

Bangladesh is already a centre for globally respected multi-nationals though the top posts in these bodies are often held by foreigners. For our men and women to go to top positions, there is no alternative to a diverse digital education system.