Organized by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, a dialogue titled “Government Priorities and the Education Sector: Budget and Reality” was held on May 07, 2026. The discussion focused closely on the education budget, institutional monitoring, the continuity of education policies, and structural reforms.
Main Speeches and Plans of the Guests
- Bobby Hajjaj (State Minister, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education):
- The government is working to overcome the setbacks in the education sector and is committed to increasing the education budget and ensuring its proper evaluation.
- Initiatives have been taken to form a regulatory board to supervise private schools.
- There are plans to bring Ebtedayee and Qawmi education under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education.
- While Members of Parliament (MPs) no longer have the opportunity to sit on the governing bodies of educational institutions, he disagreed with the demand that other politicians (who are not ministers or MPs) should also be barred from these positions.
- Rasheda K. Choudhury (Executive Director, Campaign for Popular Education – CAMPE):
- Proposed the formation of a Permanent Education Commission so that the continuity of the education policy is not disrupted by changes in government.
- Demanded that all private educational institutions be brought under an effective “regulatory mechanism.”
- Suggested conducting a survey to find out how many children of policymakers and MPs are studying in mainstream schools within the country.
- Advised following the experience of Tamil Nadu, India, for the school “Mid-Day Meal” program—where teachers remain dedicated to the classrooms while parents/guardians manage the meals, ensuring quality food for the children.
Core Demands and Recommendations
Eminent citizens and experts put forward three major demands for the development of the education sector:
- Budget Allocation: Allocating at least 5% of the GDP to the education sector.
- Teacher Empowerment: Enhancing the professional capacity and skills of teachers.
- De-politicization: Keeping educational institutions completely free from partisan political influence.
