550 in, 100 out
The government has listed 1,483 non-government schools and colleges as qualified for monthly payment order (MPO) facilities.
Prime Minister's Education Adviser Dr Alauddin Ahmed yesterday finalised the list after reviewing the recently announced list of 1,022 institutions.
Around 550 institutions have been included in the revised roll and some 100 that were on the previous one left out.
The adviser handed over the list to Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid last evening, said ministry sources.
The names of the secondary and higher secondary educational institutions listed for MPO will be published immediately.
With the inclusion of more schools and colleges, the annual budgetary allocation for MPO purpose has been increased to Tk 133 crore from Tk 112 crore.
Teachers and employees of the institutions selected will start getting their basic pays and other benefits from the state coffers with effect from May 1.The date was fixed January 1 on the previous list.
In response to objections from some ministers and the ruling Awami League lawmakers, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on May 10 directed the education ministry to put on hold the MPO list it announced on May 6.
She also assigned Dr Alauddin to prepare a fresh list.
Talking to The Daily Star, the education adviser said this time they gave emphasis on lawmakers' demands and four other criteria.
He claimed that none could say their area has been deprived on this list.
Earlier in the day, Alauddin briefed the prime minister about the list at the cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, some sources told The Daily Star that around 150 institutions, which do not meet the criteria for getting MPO facilities, have been included in the list.
Asked about inclusion of ineligible institutions, the adviser said, "This has been done to promote education in remote areas like chars, haors, hills and places where indigenous people live, and to encourage female education."
On the revised list, the number of degree colleges remains the same at 18; that of higher secondary colleges is 78, up from 50 on the previous list, said sources in the adviser's office.
The number of junior schools has jumped to 501 from 228 and secondary schools to 325 from 204.
The number of Fazil madrasas has risen to eight from six, Alim madrasas to 39 from 27 and Dakhil to 240 from 163.
The new list has 139 business management institutions at HSC level. The number was 146 on the previous list.
The number of technical educational institutions at SSC level has come down to 129 from 151.
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