Education has made significant progress in the last decade. As a result, about 99.47 percent children are enrolled in school today, and 96-97 percent children come to school. Because of positive change, the present rate of education in the country is 71 percent. Gender equality has been achieved only up to the secondary level, not only just primary level. At present, the rate of girls at the secondary level is 53 percent. At higher secondary level, it is almost equal. Girls in higher education are 45 percent. Free textbooks are being distributed to primary, secondary, madrasa and technical students in festive surroundings on the 1st day of January every year.
On January 1, 2016, 33 crore 37 lakh 62 thousand 772 textbooks have been distributed among 44 crore 44 lakhs and 16 thousand 728 students. From 2010 to 2016, 189.21 million 18 thousand 895 textbooks were distributed free of cost. In this year, 5 non-ethnic students will be provided with textbooks for teaching their mother tongue. In addition, the visually challenged students will be given Braille book. Girls' education has been granted free up to secondary level. Stipend is being given to 40 percent of the students. Of this, 30 percent for girls and 10 percent for boys is allocated.
The 'Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust' has been constituted and students are given stipends up to the degree level. This scholarship will be expanded in various studies, including PhDs in higher education from this year. Gradualization is continuing at various levels and it has been increased. Total scholarships are given to 1 crore 28 lakh students. Besides, 60 thousand disabled students get scholarships. From primary to degree level, among the 1 crore 76 lakh 96 thousand 118 students, 3,292 crore and 37 thousand taka were given as talents and stipends. In the secondary, higher secondary, degree and equivalent level, 22 lakh 29 thousand 930 students have been distributed 50 lakh 92 thousand and 922 taka by mobile banking.
The use of information and communication technology in education has been widely expanded. Computer education has been compulsory. Multimedia classrooms have been started in 4 thousand 500 primary schools and 33 thousand secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions. About 20 thousand computer labs have been created. ICT Training and Resource Centre has been set up in 125 upazilas. In 2015-2016 fiscal year, 27 thousand teachers have been given ICT training at the centre of UTTRCE. 57 thousand 338 teachers have been trained in creating multimedia content preparation digital content. In 2020, the number of seats in the Diploma Course has been increased from 25 thousand to 58 thousand for achieving 20 percent enrollment goals in technical education. In the first phase, 100 technical schools and colleges are being set up in 100 upazilas and 389 technical schools and colleges in 389 upazilas will be established in the first phase. In the private sector 4 thousand 57 polytechnic institutes and 7,773 technical institutes have been allowed to set up. 18 thousand 1,090 teachers of the 1,630 technical institutes established in private ventures have been included as MPOs. 35 madrasas have been built as model madrasas.
New buildings have been constructed in 1,332 madrasas. The project has been prepared for the construction of 1,800 madrasas. Computer courses have been started in 3 thousand 121 madrasas. So far, 1,796 and 450 madrasas have been introduced in the science and education course at Dakhil and Alim level respectively. There are two hundred 81 madrasa technical courses in education. Education programmes of 10 government schools and 4 government colleges have started in Dhaka city. With the help of ministry of information and communication technology, academic buildings have been built and expanded in 4,22 colleges. Since 2009, 6 thousand 134 school buildings have been constructed so far. A two-storied academic building has been constructed in 1,500 colleges each. Construction work is underway in 400 colleges.
In the meantime, the consent of nation 133 high schools has been given. More 202 high schools will be nationalized gradually. 26 thousand 193 primary schools were nationalized. At the same time, jobs of 1,20,000 teachers of these schools were made government. 921 private schools, 163 colleges and 303 madrasas have been included as MPOs. 61 schools have been built in under privileged areas. Learning habit program is being implemented in 6,600 educational institutions. 15.43 lakh students have been brought under the learning habit programme. Creative questions have been introduced.
Over 11 lakh teachers have been trained in different subjects including English, Math and Computer. And about 5 lakh teachers were trained on creative questioning methods. About two million additional classes have been taken in English and mathematics. The budget of the Higher Education budget has been made 2,119 crore 86 lakh which is a positive step in the development of higher education. The Secondary Education Sector Investment Programme (SESIP) is working in the quality improvement of secondary education.
Through this programme, the information of all the secondary, higher secondary and higher educational institutions of the country has been updated through the Institute Management System (IMS) module.
A permanent database has been created for all the information of the institutions, ICT Learning Center (ILC) will be established in 640 educational institutes. The work of opening vocational and pre-vocational sections in 640 educational institutions is in progress. Online Based stipend is now available in 54 Upazilas of the country. If this trend of development in education continues, the nation will get a world-class education, knowledge, technology and expertise based generation.
The writer is Research Officer, District Education Office, Munshiganj