Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Thursday directed officials to introduce artificial intelligence (AI)-based automation in teacher transfer processes to curb lobbying and ensure greater transparency in schools and colleges across Bangladesh.

The minister gave the directive at a views-exchange meeting with officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), where various measures were discussed to address administrative weaknesses within the Education Ministry and its affiliated departments.

Milon stressed the need for stronger coordination, open discussion and mutual cooperation to make the working environment more effective and service-oriented.

“We have to reduce unnecessary gaps within the administration and build a collaborative work culture so that the speed and quality of services in the education sector improve,” he said, urging officials to provide opinions fearlessly and based on logic.

Emphasising prompt resolution of teachers’ administrative issues, Milon said teachers from different regions should not have to spend unnecessary time visiting offices. “Matters related to salaries, allowances, pensions, leave, transfers, training and higher education must be disposed of within a specified timeframe.”

To ensure fairness and eliminate undue influence in transfer decisions, the minister instructed authorities to take necessary steps to launch AI-based software to manage the entire transfer process.

He also underscored the importance of expanding automation and digital systems to simplify and modernise service delivery. “In future, a system can be developed enabling service seekers to easily identify the relevant desk or official according to the nature of their problems. There is no alternative to expanding online services.”

When officials highlighted certain limitations in existing online systems and software management, the minister directed them to resolve the issues promptly to make administrative activities more dynamic and transparent.

Senior officials of the Education Ministry and DSHE were present at the meeting.