1,000 edu instts may be enlisted under MPO facility next fiscal yr: Muhith

Around 1,000 educational institutions may be enlisted under the government's Monthly Pay Order (MPO) facility in the next fiscal year (FY), said Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday.

“It would require around Tk 4,000 crore more,” the minister briefed reporters after holding a pre-budget discussion with chairmen of the parliamentary standing committees at the State Guest House Padma.

“All of them [the chairmen] recommended implementing the plan ahead of next election,” he added.

There are around 35,000 secondary educational institutions.

Of them, around 26,000 secondary schools, colleges, madrasas and technical institutes get the MPO facilities, he said.

The budget allocated for the secondary and higher education division of the education ministry is around Tk 21, 706 crore this fiscal year. Of its 66 percent allocation, which is around Tk 14,000 crore, is being used for MPO-listed institutions, the finance minister added.

After a suspension by the then BNP-led alliance government for around six years, the MPO facility was revived by the Awami League-led government in 2010 as it was one of the electoral pledges of the AL.