Subsidy for education kits

The prices of everyday essentials are increasing. With them, the prices of stationery items and education kits have been going up significantly over the past few months. Almost every type of learning kits such as books, notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, geometry boxes, etc. has become costlier. In just a span of five to six months, the price of various education tools has increased by 40 to 50 per cent. But the prices of some materials have simply become double. Even the price of a small-size notebook doubled to Tk 20 from Tk 10. This has created an additional pressure on the middle-class families. The increase in the fees for educational institutions also added to their sufferings.

It is laudable that the government distributes text books free of cost among the primary and secondary level students. But these text books are not enough for a student. The sudden increase in the price of paper and stationary materials has made fixed-income groups suffer most. If the prices of education materials continue, children from poor and low-income families will drop out from their educational institutions. So, we urge the authorities concerned to provide subsidy on study kits.

Mohammad Al-Amin,

Student of Department of Public Administration,

Comilla University, Cumilla,

hossain.alaminpa@stud.cou.ac.bd