Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) general secretary Prof ASM Maksud Kamal yesterday urged the government to allocate at least 6 percent of the GDP to education sector.
He came up with the suggestion at a post-budget discussion on ‘Budget for Tertiary Education 2015-16’, organised by Centre on Budget and Policy, Dhaka University at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), reports UNB.
Terming the proposed education budget for the fiscal 2015-16 inadequate, he said budget allocation in education sector of Bangladesh has been reducing while allotment on higher education is close to the ground.
The vision to establish Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021 would not be achieved if the government continuously allot low budget on education sector, he said.
Expressing grief, he further said neighboring countries like Sri-Lanka, Maldives, India and Pakistan allocate larger share of their budget to their education sector compared to that of Bangladesh.
Prof Maksud Kamal also demanded to create separate pay scale for the university teachers.
Speaking at the discussion, Centre on Budget and Policy director Prof Mohammad Abu Yusuf said sustainable development is not possible with the current budgetary allocation in education.
The government should allocate more to education, particularly higher education, so that the students as well as teachers can have chances to carry out research works, he said.
Chairman of the Development Studies Department at DU Prof Niaz Ahmed Khan and its former chairman Prof Taiabur Rahman were also present at the discussion.