Muhith puts thrust on universal education up to 12 years

Finance minister AMA Muhith on Saturday said that the government could not achieve the target to ensure universal education up to 12 years.
He also said that the prime minister wants to provide free education upto graduation level which he did not let her do as the government is not in that state.
The government wants to provide free education upto higher secondary level and partial scholarship at tertiary level education.
"We could not ensure universal education upto 12 years. First we want to ensure that," said AMA Muhith.
The minister came up with the observations while addressing as the chief guest at a function organised on the occasion of handing over scholarships among students of higher secondary level by Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited (DBBL) at Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium in the city.
Presided over by DBBL governing body chairman Sayem Ahmed, the function was attended by Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq as the special guest and Bangladesh Bank Governor Fazle Kabir.
This year the DBBL education foundation has awarded scholarship to 3031 students.
Commenting on the upcoming election Mr Muhith said the prevailing environment is very favourable. There is no possibility of any kind of disturbance.
"We have ensured a process to hold free and fair elections by reforming election system which no one can harm," he said.
"I believe a free and fair election will be held to ensure democratic governance," he added.
Anisul Huq said the present government considers education as the main tool to build poverty-free Bangladesh.
He urged all other organisations and individuals to come forward in advancing the government's target in education.
The law minister also urged the guardians not to marry off their daughters before 18, saying, give them chance to complete graduation upto degree level.
BB governor Fazle Kabir said that the 10 per cent allocation in the budget or Tk 530 billion is not sufficient for the education sector.
"I know some other banks are also providing scholarships to students. I hope they will increase their contribution," he said.
The BB governor mentioned that the banks are supposed to spend 30 per cent of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund for education, 20 per cent for health and 10 per cent for environment.
DBBL board of directors chairman Sayem Ahmed said that DBBL has been continuing the education scholarship programme as a partner in implementing the education policy to ensure higher education for the disadvantaged children.
DBBL managing director Abul Kashem Md Shirin said that over 27000 students have so far received scholarships at HSC level. But only over 5000 of them could enter tertiary level which means 80 per cent of them dropped out.
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