Budget gives special priority to employment-oriented education: Salehuddin

This year's budget has given special priority to creating the environment for a science-based, technology-driven and employment-oriented education, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said today (2 June).

"There is no alternative to science, technology or technical education to build a strong economic structure. This year's budget has given special priority to it," he said while presenting the proposed national budget for FY26.
 
The budget allocation for the entire education sector increased by Tk933 crore in the proposed national budget of Tk7,89,999 crore, for the financial year 2025-2026.
 
A total of Tk95,645 crore has been allocated to the education sector, with the primary and mass education ministry Tk35,403 crore and education ministry's two divisions- Secondary and Higher Education and Technical and Madrasa Education Tk47,564 crore and Tk12,678 crore respectively.

Ministry of Education's two divisions; Secondary and Higher Education and Technical and Madrasa Education, have received notable increases in 2025-2026.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division has been allocated Tk47,564 crore, up by Tk3,456 crore from the previous year's Tk44,108 crore. The revised budget of last year had reduced to Tk39,233 crore, making this year's proposal a significant rebound.

Besides, the Technical and Madrasa Education Division has also seen a boost, receiving Tk12,678 crore in proposed budget; an increase of Tk 895 crore from the original 2024-25 allocation of Tk 11,783 crore. This year's figure is even more striking when compared to the previous year's revised allocation of just Tk 9,953 crore. 

However, the primary and mass education ministry has been allocated Tk35,403 crore, a decrease of Tk3,416 crore from previous year's proposed allocation of Tk38,819 crore, although it is slightly higher than the Tk35,123 crore in the revised budget. 

While proposing budget for secondary and higher education, the education adviser said, "Existing textbooks have already been revised and updated to ensure quality education. To modernize the higher education system and align it with international standards, the curricula of all private universities have been updated based on the globally recognised outcome-based education (OBE) model."

He said under the Secondary and Higher Education Division, 62 projects are being implemented with an allocation of Tk1,957 crore for educational infrastructure development and other initiatives. 

"Besides, plans have been taken to construct ICT infrastructure, including necessary buildings, at Dhaka University, BUET and Jashore Science and Technology University, which will be used as modern classrooms, laboratories and start-up incubation centers for the ICT students," he added. 

Moreover, the government has provided stipends to 51 lakh insolvent meritorious students at secondary level, eight lakh at higher secondary level and 1.65 lakh at undergraduate level in the current fiscal year, he said.

Regarding technical and Madrasa education division, the adviser said technical and vocational education plays an important role in ensuring employment opportunities both at home and abroad. 

"At present, the enrollment rate in technical education is 19 percent. Women polytechnic and engineering colleges are being established at every divisional level, polytechnics at district level and technical schools at upazila level to substantially increase this rate in the future," he said.

Besides, the government is implementing extensive programs for the development of Madrasa education, he said, adding, construction of 1,135 Madrasa buildings has already been completed and construction of 513 multi-storey buildings are underway. Work is underway to bring 1,519 madrasas across the country under MPO.

Moreover, multimedia classrooms have been set up in 493 madrasas, which are playing a role in making madrasa education time-befitting, he said. 

The adviser proposed to allocate Tk728 crore for inclusion of stipend at the Ebtedia level and MPO enrollment of Madrasas.

Commenting on primary and mass education, the adviser said, most important foundation of a child's cognitive development is laid at the level of primary education.

"Considering this, short, medium and long-term reform activities have been started based on the recommendations of the consultation committee formed for the development of primary education, whose main goal is to create a suitable environment and ensure quality education for the students," the adviser said.
 
To ensure an enabling environment for primary education, 5,946 classrooms,17,164 wash blocks and 4,450 tube wells have been set up in primary schools across the country in the current fiscal year, he said, adding, at present, construction of 21,278 classrooms, 18,476 wash blocks and installation of 6,984 tube wells are underway.

This year 9,19,50,492 books were distributed among the students from pre-primary level to Class-V, he said.