UNBconnect...

Speakers for more budgetary allocation for education
Reported by: UNB Connect
Reported on: Jun 24, 2012 04:45 pm
Reported in: Education

Dhaka, June 24 (UNB) – Speakers at a view exchange meeting on Sunday urged the government to provide more allocation for education in the upcoming budget to ensue quality education and remove discrimination in the country’s education sector. The Finance Minister has proposed an allocation of Tk 39,390 crore for education sector in the proposed budget for fiscal 2012-13.Though the allocation, in terms of amount, is higher than that of the previous year in, it is small in terms of percentage of total budget. In terms of percentage, the education sector got 12 percent of total budget in 2011-12 fiscal while it is only 11.5 percent in the proposed budget of fiscal 2012-13. National Front for Teachers and Employees (NFTE) and Initiative for Human Development, Bangladesh jointly organised the meeting titled ‘To which extent proposed budgetary allocation in education helpful?’ at the National Press Club in the city. Chaired by NFTE chief coordinator Principal Kazi Faruk Ahmed, the meeting was addressed, among others, by former adviser to caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury, former chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) M Abdul Majid, former education secretary Syed Ataur Rahman, Professor of Dhaka University Dr Akhteruzzaman, vice-president of Bangladesh Economics Association Hannana Begum and chairperson of Amar Odhikar Campaign Dr Nilufar Banu. Rasheda K Chowdhury, also a representative of the Global Campaign for Education for Asia and Pacific, said Kenya being a poor country provides 45 percent of the total budgetary allocation for education whereas the Bangladesh has allocated only 11.5 percent of the total budget for education in the proposed budget. She said although the number of students is increasing in the country every year, the budgetary allocation for education is reduced this year, which is a matter of concern. Criticising highest allocation for defence in the budget, the former caretaker government adviser said: “Why don’t we see adequate budgetary allocation for education and human development? This is the high time we raised question.” Rasheda said as teachers are getting poor salaries, brilliant students have lost their interest in coming in teaching profession. Dr Akhteruzzaman said although the government has already announced a modern education policy, there is no specific allocation in budget to implement it.He suggested that the government give specific allocation in the proposed budget to implement the education policy as soon as possible. Abdul Majid stressed the need for increasing the capacity of the government to provide more budgetary allocation for the education sector. “A portion of rich people is dodging tax in the country and the government is being deprived of getting revenue. If the government can collect more taxes, it will be able to provide more allocation for education,” he said. Majid urged the teacher community to play a positive role in motivating the rich so that they give taxes. 

Home
View Full Site