Keep paper price under control

The prices of education materials, especially all kind of papers, are increasing alarmingly in Bangladesh. In just a span of one year, the prices of paper have become more than double in the local market. It has created an additional pressure on the middle-class families. If this continues, children from lower-class families will drop out from their educational institutions. Following the economic fallout of Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing inflation, the majority of families across the country are now in a financial crisis. As these fixed-income groups are now suffering to make both ends meet, the price surge of education materials like paper will make them struggle further. The burden on people is getting heavier.

If Bangladesh wants to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it requires more educated and skilled individuals. But education is getting expensive here day by day. We are now being held hostage by some unscrupulous traders, who often create an artificial scarcity and hike paper price. The inflated price has directly affected our children. Those who have school- and college-going children are spending above their budget to buy them education materials including paper, books, eraser, sharpener, pen and pencil, among others. In order to ensure the right to education for all, the authorities concerned should strengthen the social safety net programmes so that poor families can bear the educational expenses for their children. Of the 17 SDGs, education is the fourth one. So, it is crucial to ensure affordable prices for education materials such as paper to attain this goal.

Sabbir Khan,

Student of Sirajganj Government College, Sirajganj,

sabbirkhan113571@gmail.com