Higher edn relegated to a lower position

The budgetary share for higher education has gone down over the last 10 years despite a 60 percent increase in university enrolment during the same period.

"The allocation increased in terms of money amount, but given the increased enrolment and a 50 percent inflation in 10 years, it is still way short of the requirement," said an expert requesting anonymity.

During fiscal 1993-94, Tk 143 crore was set aside for public universities, representing 8.14 percent of the total education budget of Tk 1,756 crore. In fiscal 2002-03, the percentage came down to 7.66 points with Tk 291.24 crore allocated for higher education out of Tk 3,802 crore.

In terms of the total national budget, the corresponding figures were 0.75 percent down from 0.78 percent.

Experts say the country's educational spending, a huge chunk of which accounts for teacher salary and infrastructure, is not enough to raise the standard of education.

According to a report of the University Grants Commission (UGC), salaries and other allowances for teachers and employees consume 72 percent of the budget. Another 16 percent is spent on maintenance and other expenditure.

That leaves a mere 12 percent of the budget for books, journals, educational equipment and research.

Citing Tk 276.50 crore of budgetary allocation for 13 public universities in last fiscal, the report said Tk 195 crore was spent on salaries and allowances, Tk 25 crore on pension and Tk 56.50 crore on other related expenditure.

The report also points out that public universities face budget constraints as UGC guidelines are not followed in many cases. Irregularities include whimsical awarding of promotion to teachers and upgrading faculty positions.

Despite the government's repeated reminders to the universities to adopt income-generating measures from their own resources, they account for only 5-10 percent of the total earnings, which the UGC report termed 'very negligible'.