Government Will Stand by Students to Turn Innovative Ideas into Reality: Bobby Hajjaj at Mohammadpur Workshop

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education and Dhaka-13 MP Bobby Hajjaj has said the government will cooperate so that students can identify local-level problems through their innovative thinking and creative proposals and find realistic and sustainable solutions to them.

He made the remarks on Saturday (31 October) as chief guest at a special workshop of the 'Governance Solutions Competition', organised in Mohammadpur in the capital with the participation of students from the Dhaka-13 constituency.

He said opportunities must be created to involve students in state policymaking as well, by using their talent and new ideas to solve local problems.

The state minister said students should not only talk about big problems; they must identify problems for which they themselves can propose realistic and effective solutions. The extent of a problem, who is being harmed and how deep its impact is must be presented with information and evidence. Field surveys, interviews with relevant people, news reports and data from reliable research can be used for this. If needed, various artificial intelligence tools can also be used as support.

Stressing implementability in solution proposals, he said a good solution will not do if it is attractive only on paper; whether it can actually be carried out must also be considered. Which authorities' permission and cooperation are needed to implement a solution, who will be involved, and what manpower, money and other resources will be required must be set out clearly.

Giving the examples of controlling traffic congestion in front of schools and of canal and waste management in an area, Bobby Hajjaj said that alongside temporary initiatives, long-term and sustainable measures must be ensured to solve a problem. A one-day cleanliness drive alone will not do; people must be made aware and everyone's participation in waste management must be ensured.

He also said that when formulating a solution, it must be identified who holds the legal, administrative and operational responsibility. No initiative can be made long-lasting without the consent of the relevant institutions and the public and the provision of necessary resources. That is why realism, effectiveness and long-term impact will receive special importance in students' proposals.

Highlighting the special aspect of the competition, the state minister said it is not a conventional competition for students, but an opportunity for them to understand closely the process of running the state and making policy through their own thinking and proposals. The three selected teams will get the opportunity to work in coordination with the MP's office to implement their proposals, and with the state minister's office if the subject of a proposal is education-related. If needed, the involvement of relevant government institutions and the National Parliament will also be ensured.

He said a detailed written report will first be collected within a set time from the 124 teams taking part in the competition. A seven-member judge panel will evaluate the reports. From there, the best five teams selected will get the opportunity to make a 15-minute PowerPoint presentation before a national-level audience and guests. Based on the final presentation, the champion, first runner-up and second runner-up teams will be chosen.

Bobby Hajjaj said he wants the talent and creativity of Dhaka-13's students to be used properly. He wants to show the whole country that if students' thinking and innovative power can be used properly, the beginning of changing the country can come through their hands. Judges of the competition, members of the organising team, teachers from various educational institutions and participating students were present at the workshop.