Inadequate investment and poor budgetary allocation in the country’s primary education sector are contributing to inequality and disparities.
Government primary schools nationwide are facing challenges such as substandard infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and a shortage of competent teachers. Additionally, the lack of libraries, playgrounds, access to co-curricular activities, and funding are all barriers to ensuring quality education.
The grim picture of primary-level education was highlighted in a research study conducted by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) between April and May of this year.
The study focused on 30 government primary schools in Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, and Nilphamari.
The findings of the study were presented at a national conference held at the Krishibid Institution Auditorium in the capital on Sunday, attended by teachers, parents, government representatives from respective districts, and education experts.
The CPD study reveals that insufficient government funding has hampered schools’ ability to hire adequate staff, procure necessary teaching materials, improve infrastructure and management practices, recruit additional teachers for extracurricular activities, and enhance security and cleanliness measures.
Addressing the event, Dr Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD, emphasised the need to address the disparity in basic education to create better job prospects for students.
She pointed out that studies have shown a significant decline in mathematics and English proficiency among students of class V and class VIII, which continues throughout higher secondary level and university education.
Dr Fahmida stated that the 8th Five Year Plan had promised to allocate 2 per cent of GDP to education by 2019 and 3 per cent by 2025.
However, the new budget proposal allocates only 1.76 per cent of GDP to education. She called for the elimination of discrimination and the improvement of education quality through adequate allocation and training.
Mustafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow at CPD, highlighted the increasing income and wealth disparity in the country, partly attributed to the existence of different streams within primary education. He emphasised that education is an investment that yields meaningful returns in the long run, with the best returns achieved through investment at the primary level.
Towfiqul Islam Khan, a senior research fellow at CPD, presented a keynote paper at the conference discussing the study’s findings on primary education.
The conference was conducted by D. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at CPD.
Insufficient allocation
According to the keynote address, the allocation for the Primary and Mass Education ministry has decreased to 4.56 per cent in the fiscal year 2023-24, compared to 6.51 per cent in FY 2016-17.
Additionally, government expenditure on primary education has declined to 4.53 per cent in FY 2021-22 from 6.38 per cent in FY 2016-17.
As a percentage of GDP, the allocation for the primary and mass education ministry has decreased to 0.69 per cent in FY 2023-24, down from 0.95 per cent in FY 2016-17.
Regional disparities and challenges
The poverty rate in Gaibandha is nearly double the national rate. In Thakurgaon, it is lower than the national rate, while in Nilphamari, it is approximately 8 per cent higher than the national rate.
The literacy rate in Thakurgaon surpasses the national rate, but in Gaibandha and Nilphamari, it falls below the national average.
The study also reveals that the rate of child marriage in Gaibandha is approximately 11 per cent higher than the national rate.
Specifically, the study finds that the rate of child marriage is 43.70 per cent in Gaibandha, 32.60 per cent in Thakurgaon, and 33.50 per cent in Nilphamari, compared to the national rate of 32.36 per cent.
Moreover, the percentage of internet usage is 20.36 per cent in Gaibandha, 26.02 per cent in Thakurgaon, and 18.41 per cent in Nilphamari, which is lower than the national rate of 39.16 per cent.
Challenges faced by primary schools
The study identifies several challenges in primary schools, including a lack of child-friendly environments and insufficient resources for differently-abled students.
It also highlights that over one-third of students rely on private tutors for education, and they face unexpected problems if they don’t attend private tutoring.
In fact, one-third of the surveyed individuals expressed concerns that students would fail without private tutoring.
Recommendations
Stakeholders emphasised the importance of providing 100 per cent stipends and increasing the monthly stipend amount to reduce student dropouts, child labour, and child marriage.
Participants at the conference also pointed out that the lack of adequate salary allowances, timely promotions, and social status discourages talented individuals from pursuing teaching as a profession.
They cited examples of teachers retiring after 38 years of service without receiving any promotions.
