The national budget for the fiscal year 2015-2016 has proposed 10 per cent VAT (value added tax) on private universities as well as medical and engineering colleges for the first time.
In his budget speech on Thursday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said in order to keep the tax burden at a rational level, he proposed VAT on them at the truncated rate of 10 per cent.
He said although VAT at a reduced rate of 7.5 per cent is currently levied on English medium schools, private universities and medical and engineering colleges still remain beyond the purview of the VAT.
However, the minister proposed Tk 316.18 billion (31,618 crore) for the education sector including primary and mass education for the upcoming fiscal year.
The minister in his speech mentioned some projects for the sector including establishment of Barisal Engineering College, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University, Gazipur Digital University, Khulna Agricultural University, Bangladesh Islamic Arabic University and Rabindra University at Shahjadpur, Sirajganj.
He informed the House about establishment of an accreditation council, which is now in the final stage, to ensure quality of higher education at private universities in the country.
About primary education, the minister said as the government believes in quality education, it has been working to expand primary education up to class VIII by 2018.
He said to retain the reap of hundred per cent school enrolment, the government has taken up a school feeding programme for about 3,390,000 children in all primary schools of 93 upazilas.
He also informed the House that the government has completed construction of 1,019 primary schools out of planned 1,500 schools across the country.
The minister has underscored the need for quality improvement of the country's technical education. He said the government has taken up projects for setting up technical schools in each divisional town, polytechnic institutions in 23 districts, 4 technical institutes for women in 4 divisions and engineering colleges in each division.
A project has also been taken up to deliver basic literacy and life skill training to illiterate people in 15-45 age group. The government is also developing websites for all educational institutions. The work of establishing resource centres at 128 upazilas is progressing, the minister said.
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10pc VAT on pvt edn proposed
FE Report | Published: June 05, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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