Allocate 20pc of nat’l budget for education
The government should allocate 20 percent of the next national budget (2021-22) for the education sector, to mitigate the learning loss of an estimated 4 crore students, and to tackle the predicted increase of dropout rate, demanded educationists and development workers, yesterday.
They made the demands at a webinar, titled "More and Better Financing for Education", organised by DARPAN and Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), as part of celebrating the Global Action Week for Education (April 26-30).
They also demanded maximum and effective utilisation of the education budget and a special fund to bring children who have dropped out, back to the classroom, as many of them have been involved in income-generating work to help their families during the pandemic.
CAMPE deputy director KM Enamul Hoque in a presentation highlighted the need for digitalisation of the teaching-learning processes, including teachers' capacity development and inter-ministerial cooperation.
He also demanded enhancement of efforts to equitable financing for marginalised students, and ensuring quality education without cost, stopping commercialisation of education and increasing stipends and coverage of school meals.
Nazma Asrafi, additional deputy commissioner (Education & ICT), Cumilla, said, "Since schools have been shut, we could not bring all our students under the online education system, especially children from rural and marginal areas."
"However, the government took initiatives to increase the coverage and to reach the outreach students," the chief guest at the webinar added.
Cumilla district education officer, Md Abdul Mazid, said during the current pandemic situation, e-learning has gained priority; but many insolvent students are unable to purchase a constant internet connection.
"Setting all the constraints aside, we should at least yield to the initiative to digitalise our education system," he added.
The webinar was chaired by Abul Hasnat Babul, ex-president of Cumilla Press Club, and moderated by Basanti Saha, programme director, DARPAN.
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