Some 88 percent of students at government high schools and 78 percent of students at non-government high schools arrange private coaching while 31 to 83 percent students at the primary level have to manage private coaching to continue their study, said the 'Education Watch Report-2006'.

The Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) conducted the survey.

The report said that around half of the primary students drop out before completing class five and 80 percent of students at secondary level drop out before completing the SSC because of poverty.

"Only 2.2 percent of the national income is allocated for education in the country while India allocates 3.3 percent and Nepal 3.4 percent for their education sectors. However, it should increase to six percent according to Dakar Framework of Action," said Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, chairman of Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad, while presenting the key findings of the report at a press briefing in the city.

He also said that the government funds for schools are not properly distributed, which is one of the major reasons behind the fall in the quality of education.

"At the primary level, the government spends annually Tk 1766 on a student of government primary school, Tk 957 on a student of madrasa, Tk 706 on a student of registered non-government primary school, Tk 574 on a student of community primary school and Tk 55 on a student of non-registered primary school. On the other hand, the government spends Tk 5445 on a student of government high school, Tk 3943 on a student of madrasa and Tk 2,788 on a student of non-government high school," he said.

He also said that guardians have to bear 59 percent education expenditure in government primary school, 65 percent in madrasa, 70 percent in community primary school, 76 percent in registered non-government primary school and 83 percent in non-registered primary schools although the government declared that the primary education is free for all.

"In secondary education, guardians have to bear 71 percent education expenditure in non-government high school, 67 percent in government high school and 56 percent in madrasa," he added.

Kazi Fazlur Rahman, chairman of 'Education Watch-2006', said the quality of education is not the same at all educational institutions as the government funds are is too little and the allocated funds are not distributed properly.

He also said the dropout rates at primary and secondary education levels are very alarming because poor guardians cannot bear the education expenditure for their children.

Dr Kazi Saleh Ahmed, former vice-chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, urged the government to ban private coaching and provide quality education for all students.

Rasheda K Choudhury, director of CAMPE, also spoke at the press briefing.