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Call to allocate 6pc of GDP to edn sector

24 April 2010, 18:00 PM

METROPOLITAN

Staff Correspondent

Demanding more budgetary allocation for education sector, speakers at a seminar yesterday said effective utilisation of the money is a must to materialise the government's pledge to ensure quality primary education for all. There is no space to compromise on primary education as it builds the foundation, they said, urging the government to recognise the primary education as the fundamental rights in the constitution. The speakers also demanded that the government immediately implement the national education policy and allocate six percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for education sector. Amar Odhikar Campaign organised the seminar titled 'Quality primary education for all children: adequate allocation in the national budget is needed' at Jatiya Press Club in the city. Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmed, co-chair of the national education policy formulation committee, said the government had committed to allocate six percent of the GDP for the education sector and it has to fulfil its pledge. He said the education sector got over Tk 14,000 crore in the current budget that is 12.3 percent of the total budget and the allocation may be increased to Tk 16,000 crore. Dr Kholiquzzaman said the education policy would be implemented in nine years and it would require Tk 8,000 crore every year for the implementation. "So the government should allocate Tk 20,000-22,000 crore for education sector in the coming budget," he said adding effective implementation is most essential. He emphasised inclusion of the marginalised group in the education facilities. Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), said the government is currently facing a tripartite challenge -- bringing cent percent children to schools, retaining them in schools and ensuring quality education for them. A kind of politics is on centring the education policy, she said calling upon the government to implement it immediately. She suggested introducing hot cooked meal instead of the biscuits for the children to retain them in schools. Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan, secretary in charge to the primary and mass education, said despite many problems the government is working its best to improve the condition. "We are going to set up 1,500 schools and have already increased the number of stipends in the primary level," he said. Though the government wants to increase the allocation, but it's not possible in one or two years, he said. "More allocation is a must but we have to consider the fact that the government has other necessary priorities to meet," he said. Rokeya Kabir, convener of Amar Odhikar Campaign, moderated the seminar while Principal Quazi Farruque Ahmed, treasurer of the National University, and Abdul Awal of the campaign also spoke.