Agricultural university curriculum should be up-to-date: Minister

The curriculum of agricultural universities has to be up-to-date and practical to produce skilled and trained agricultural graduates so that they can deal with global warming, climate change, Covid-19 and many other factors that have threatened agriculture and food security and damaged the world's food supply system.

Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzak said this as the chief guest at a webinar titled "The Role of Modern Curriculum in Creating Skilled Agricultural Graduates" organised by Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University on Saturday.

The agriculture minister said marketing and processing of agricultural products would have to be increased to make agriculture more profitable.

"We need to build a sustainable marketing system for agricultural products at home and abroad through the commercialisation of agriculture."

Therefore, it is necessary to update the syllabus and curriculum of the agricultural universities in line with the universities of the developed world. In particular, the formulation of a syllabus containing knowledge of commercial agricultural techniques is the demand of time, he added.

Agriculture Secretary Nasiruzzaman said the history of agriculture and rural power structures need to be brought into the curriculum. To develop agriculture, it is important to know about its evolution. The syllabus also needs to include how farmers and agricultural graduates will successfully address the risks of climate change.

Former education secretary NI Khan said not only the curriculum should be changed, but also higher training should be provided for teachers. The rules for recruitment of teachers need to be changed.

Vice Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University Professor Lutful Hasan said, "New subjects are being added to the syllabus all the time, but there are some weaknesses. Over time, that is likely to change."