A study titled 'Expenditure review of TVET institutions in Bangladesh' conducted by Dhaka University Bureau of Economic Research (BER) found that the annual per-student cost in polytechnic institutes is BDT 40,855 while public universities have a significantly higher average cost of BDT 166,859, about four times higher, reports UNB.
BER revealed their study report in a roundtable conference, held in the DU Senate building on Monday.
Dr. K M Kabirul Islam, secretary, TMED, ministry of education was present as a chief guest while Prof. Dr. Sayema Haque Bidisha, DU pro VC (admin), and Shoaib Ahmad Khan, director general, DTE as special guests at the programme.
DU economics department Assistant Prof. Md. Nazmul Hossain gave the finding presentation.
He said, "The study aims to analyze expenditure activities, assess cost per student across programmes, identify cost drivers, and recommend cost-efficiency improvements. Using a mixed-method approach, it examines 13 polytechnics and 10 TSCs, selected based on programme diversity, institutional scale, and geographical location."
The study shows that in the government Technical School and College -TSCs Students' enrolment 64 per cent per year, activity-wise yearly per-student operating cost BDT 31,840 taka, yearly government contribution BDT 32,075 taka for per-student in the FY 2022-23.
In the government polytechnics institutions, students' enrollment is 77 per cent, activity-wise yearly per-student operating cost BDT 27,911 taka, graduation rate 72.63 per cent and dropout rate 27.37 per cent in the 22-23 session.
"The annual per-student cost in polytechnic institutes is BDT 40,855, while public universities have a significantly higher average cost of BDT 166,859, about four times higher. The median university cost is BDT 144,670.
Public engineering and technology universities have the highest per-student cost at BDT 179,559, approximately 4.4 times that of polytechnics," finds the study.
The study recommends that a systematic approach is needed to boost technical and vocational education and training (TVET) enrollment, including surveys, feedback, and awareness campaigns. Upgrading the curriculum with industry collaboration, ICT, and soft skills is crucial.
