Neglect to bring bleak future

Decreasing investments in education and health sectors will have adverse impacts in the long run, said experts yesterday, calling for increased budgetary allocations in human resource development.

"Things may glitter in the short run if higher investments are made in physical infrastructures than in social sectors, but the future will be dark," said Prof Siddiqur Rahman, former director of the Institute of Education Research (IER), Dhaka University.   

In the proposed budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year, the government allocated Tk 31, 618 crore for education, which is 10.71 percent of the total budget -- it is a decline from 14.3 percent in the 2009-10 budget although the amount went up.

Meanwhile, the proposed health budget is Tk 12,695 crore, which is 4.3 percent of the total budget, a decrease from 5.1 percent in the 2011-12 budget.  

Meanwhile, the allocation for infrastructure is much higher in the proposed budget for 2015-16 fiscal year. The transportation and communication sector got 23.8 percent and local government and rural development got 18.4 percent of the total budget.

Education and health are two fundamental aspects that impact future growth and sustainability of development, said Dr Siddiqur Rahman at a dialogue on "Investment in Education for Ending Child Marriage".

Ain o Salish Kendra, Terre des Hommes, Women and Girls Lead Global and World Vision Bangladesh organised it at Brac Centre Inn in Dhaka.

IER Assistant Professor Mahbubur Rahman said authorities seem to look at education budget as consumption, which is a wrong notion.

He said the allocation for education is a capital that helps build skilled human resources and has positive impacts in productivity.

Chandan Z Gomes, advocacy director at World Vision Bangladesh, said over 1.5 million children do not go to school despite the country's significant progress in education.

He said the dropout rate is also high, which is a result as well as a cause of child marriage, adding that 66 percent of children get married before the age of 18 despite it being the legal age for marriage. 

Addressing as chief guest, Education Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan said it is true that the share of the education budget is declining, but the government is now focusing on job creation. 

Tania Haque, associate professor of women and gender studies, Dhaka University; and Mahmudul Kabir, country director of Terre des Hommes, the Netherlands, also spoke.