Govt to raise education allotment to 5% of GDP within five-year: PM
Free education for girls up to honours level planned, he says.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the government will gradually increase the allotment for the education sector to 5% of the country's gross domestic product over the next five years to improve quality, expand infrastructure and reduce the student dropout rate to near zero.
The increased allocation will also be used to improve teachers' skills at the primary level, he said while responding to a question from Naogaon-5 MP Md Zahidul Islam Dhalu during the 21st sitting of the second session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad today (8 July).
Highlighting BNP's election manifesto on education, Tarique said the FY27 budget marks the first time that education spending has been raised to 2% of GDP.
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Under the Secondary Education Development Programme, the government has allocated Tk4,199 crore for the Education Ministry, including Tk3,599 crore for the Secondary and Higher Education Division and Tk600 crore for the Technical and Madrasa Education Division.
The government has also allocated Tk810 crore for teacher training under the Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education project as it aims to train 347,021 teachers, heads of educational institutions and other personnel in subject-based teaching, leadership, ICT, blended learning, mental health, bullying prevention, library management and climate change, the premier told parliament.
He said the government will continue distributing free textbooks, stipends, school meals, school uniforms and sports equipment to help prevent student dropouts.
Replying to a supplementary question from reserved-seat MP Helen Jerin Khan, the premier said, "The BNP government led by Begum Khaleda Zia introduced free education for girls up to the higher secondary level, and we now want to extend this facility to the honours or degree level."
He said the government has been giving equal importance to women's education and economic empowerment.
Addressing female students who were present in the parliament gallery to observe the proceedings, Tarique urged them to pursue higher education and said the government was committed to creating more opportunities for women.
