20pc funds demanded for education sector

A children's organisation yesterday demanded an allocation of 20 percent funds for education sector in the national budget to ensure education for all children in the country.

Aside from recruiting competent teachers, they also urged the government to ensure multimedia classrooms, libraries and laboratories -- including science and computer ones -- at schools for the improvement of quality of education.

The demnads were made by National Children's Task Force (NCTF) at a press conference in the capital's Jatiya Press Club.

At the programme NCTF disclosed a set of demands based on discussions it held with around 4,800 children in 64 districts.

The demands include ensuring special access -- including wheelchair ramps and wheelchair accessible toilets -- for differently abled students at educational institutes, midday meals at schools where children from destitute families attend and internet safety for all children.  

In several global forums including the Dakar Declaration, Bangladesh had committed six percent of its GDP or a minimum of 20 percent allocation in its national budget for the education sector.

The children present at yesterday's programme stressed the need for establishing more schools and hospitals in haor and char areas and ensuring adequate teachers and in-house physicians at schools.

NCTF President Safayet Zamil said, "We want to see a reflection of children's voice in the upcoming national budget."

Faria Mehjabin, president of NCTF (Dhaka unit), and Ferdous Naeem, deputy speaker of Child Parliament, a wing of NCTF, were also present at the press conference among others.