UNB: The education minister, Nurul Islam Nahid, Wednesday said the government has planned to make computer a compulsory subject for the students of Class IX by 2010.

'A computer lab and a technical-education establishment will be built in each upazila,' he said addressing a workshop titled 'Microsoft Impact Study' at the city's Teachers' Training College.

Education secretary Syed Ataur Rahman and Microsoft country director Firoj Mahmud, among others, spoke at the function.

About the country's widespread illiteracy, the education minister said the government has taken initiatives to make Bangladesh free from illiteracy by 2017. 'All eligible children of the country will be enrolled in school by 2011 to make that happen.'

Nahid urged the teachers to put in their best efforts to improve the standard of the country's education to tackle the global challenges.

Microsoft Bangladesh will arrange a 12-day workshop on computer, aiming to provide training to some 10,000 higher secondary level teachers.