DHAKA, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Almost 50 percent of the students admitted to class one in primary schools in Bangladesh drop out before completing class five at present, leading English newspaper The Daily Star reported Friday.

    Bangladeshi caretaker government Education Adviser Hossain Zillur Rahman said in a book distributing function Thursday and was quoted by the Daily as saying, "At present, around 4.4 million students get admitted to class one every year, but only 2.2 million students that actually complete the primary level of education."

    Rahman identified five key points to tackle the situation like improving the quality of education, training teachers, implementing accountability of educational institutions, improving examination system, increasing extra-curricular activities.

    Rahman said the situation is a big challenge for the next government which will be led by former Prime Minister and Awami Legue President Sheikh Hasina.

    Hasina, whose party won a landslide victory in the 9th parliamentary elections held on Dec. 29, 2008, said in her election manifesto to eradicate illiteracy from the country by 2014.