The government will fix the allocation of the upcoming allocation for the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in the national budget for F2024-25 to enhance the quality of education and infrastructural development and continue the mid-day meal, admission assistance, scholarships and stipend at the primary level.
Compared to FY2023-24, the ministry’s allocation may increase by Tk 3,458 crore to Tk 38,180 crore in FY25, according to sources at the ministry.
In FY24, the ministry was allocated Tk 34,722 crore.
Out of Tk 38,180 crore in FY25, development sector expenditure may be set at Tk 15,187 crore and Tk 22,992 for operating expenditure, sources said.
They said the revenue earnings of the ministry may be estimated at Tk 525 crore.
An allocation of Tk 72.5 crore may be kept for the Bureau of Non-Formal Education in FY25 for establishing the new offices at the upazila level.
Besides, Tk 50 crore could be earmarked for conducting basic education for out-of-school children aged 10 to 14 years and livelihood skills training for those above 14 years of age in 32 upazilas of 32 districts.
Meanwhile, following the decision of the Board of Trustees of Children Welfare Trust (Shishu Kallyan Trust), as the process of inclusion of 50 schools is going on, the allocation is going to increase slightly in the upcoming budget.
Economists have said that allocation for the education sector should be at least 4 per cent of GDP, which is also mentioned in the National Education Policy.
However, analysis shows that such allocation was only above 2 per cent of GDP in FY22. In FY23, the figure was 1.86 per cent and in FY24, it was 1.76 per cent of GDP.
Therefore, stakeholders have stressed increasing the allocation for the education sector in proportion to the GDP in the coming financial year.
