Dhaka, Nov. 23 -- Bangladesh today stands at a demographic crossroads. With a substantial youth population, it holds a promise of a new generation that can lead the country into an era of creativity, innovation, and social progress. And yet, that promise remains only partly fulfilled. Thousands of young graduates are leaving universities each year without a clear sense of purpose or place in the job market. It is not solely an economic issue, but also deeply social. It speaks of the kind of learning we have prioritised in Bangladesh, and also the kind we have left out.

For decades, our education system has been designed around academic performance and examination success. We have valued memorisation over curiosity, competition over colla...