The Government has decided to provide free education for the students of class six from next year. As the government decides, the students of class six at different government and private schools will not be needed to pay the tuition fees from 2020. The government will pay the tuition fees on behalf of the students.
According to Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, about 23 lakh and 68 thousand students currently study in class six across the country. This huge number of students will not have to pay the fees if the government implements the decision. Secondary and Higher Education Department Additional Secretary Javed Ahmed told Bangladesh Post, “The government has taken decision to provide free education from class six to class ten. After implementing the free education facilities in class six, the government will extend the limit of free education from classes seven to ten to ensure it so that the studies of the students do not end in mid-way because of financial constraints.”
The funds have been allocated to Secondary Education Development Project (SEDP), to provide tuition fees, he added. Sources said that a meeting would be held on October 6 in order to provide tuition fees under the Integrated Stipends Program. The head of the institutions and authorities concerned have also been called at the meeting. In the meeting, the decision will be made as to how and in which way the tuition fees of class six can be paid.
Moreover, at present, the government provides free education in all classes of primary level. As a result, no students are needed to pay tuition fees from class one to class five. As almost all primary educational institutions are government-owned, there is almost no problem to provide free education facilities. However, various strategies have to be adopted to implement the tuition fees for class six as there are many private educational institutions in secondary level, experts said.
About the government decision, experts and educationalists said that it would help to encourage poor students to continue studies and help reducing drop out students after class five. Educationalist Emdadul Haque told Bangladesh Post, “Some poor students in rural areas do not continue their studies after completing the primary level. If they get free education in class six, it will encourage them a lot to continue studies.”
Emdadul Haque, also the professor of Chittagong University said, “Education is one of the most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. Still, disparities between rural and urban areas remain high.” To achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) and ensure quality education by 2030, this decision will go ahead ensuring all girls and boys to complete free secondary education, he added.