Budget for primary education, health inadequate
Says study
The budget allocation in primary education and health sectors is inadequate though it is claimed that these two sectors get priority, said a study.
The study on the state of government-run primary education and health services conducted by the Sushasaner Jonno Procharavijan (Supro), an NGO, said it is the responsibility of the government to ensure people's access to these sectors.
In the current fiscal, budget allocation for education sector is Tk 18,402 crore (13.9 percent of total budget) while the health sector has got Tk 8,147 (6.2 percent of the total budget) which is inadequate for development of these sectors, said the study.
As the allocation is provided centrally, the regional proper disbursement of this fund is not followed accordingly, said the study conducted in 20 districts. Officials involved in these sectors, service providers and service receivers, were the respondents.
The study suggested increasing budget allocation in these two sectors as well as preferring government management rather than privatisation.
It also said common people are being deprived of services as they are not aware of information about the government's initiatives and facilities available in these public services.
Lack of transparency and accountability in effective use of the allocated budget is a key reason behind the poor condition of the two sectors, claimed the study which was revealed at a view-exchange meeting at Cirdap in the capital yesterday.
The study revealed that there is a scarcity of manpower in district hospitals, upazila health complexes and union health centres.
It said most of the cases, the patients purchase drugs from outsides while the officials concerned said the listed medicine for the hospitals are not sufficient to face the demand.
In primary education, the study found that 56.58 percent respondents think all school-aged children take admission to the schools while 43.43 percent think that all school-aged children do not take admission to schools.
For ensuring quality health services, the study provides a set of recommendations include appointing doctors in union health complexes, effective monitoring, proper distribution of medicines in government hospitals and updating citizen's charter and list of drugs.
The recommendations for primary education include setting up at least one school in every village, providing lunch, scholarship and other facilities to the children in Char areas, ensuring 1:30 proportion of teacher and student, establishing necessary classrooms and other infrastructures, providing salaries and allowance to teachers timely.
Former state minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Abdul Mannan, lawmakers Shah Alam, Khan Tipu Sultan, Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, educationalist Dr Mohiuddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the discussion. Supro Jatiya Parishad member Madhab Chandra Dutta moderated it.
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