Taka 65,444 crore for education, technology

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Thursday proposed an allocation of Taka 65,444 crore for education and technology in the national budget for 2017-18 fiscal.

Placing the budget in the Parliament, Muhith said, “In order to expand ICT education, ‘Sheikh Russel Digital Lab and Multimedia Classroom’ has been established in 23,331 secondary schools and 15,000 primary schools across the country.”

He said the e-Filing system has already been introduced in 20 ministries or divisions including the Prime Minister’s Office, 64 deputy commissioner’s offices and seven divisional commissioner’s offices.

Besides, around 18,500 government offices throughout the country have been brought under a single network, the finance minister added.

“The existing capacity of the submarine cable has been increased to 200 gbps from 44 gbps. As of April 2017, the number of mobile telephone and internet subscribers has increased to around 13.31 crore and 7 crore respectively,” he said.

Muhith said, “You are well aware that we have so far nationalized 26,193 primary schools. As a result, almost every village of the country now has a public primary school.

In the secondary level, Upazila ICT Training and Resource Centres have been established and 295 non-government schools have been transformed into model schools in 315 upazilas having no government schools.”

Computer labs in 3,550 educational institutions and multimedia classrooms in 23,331 educational institutions have also been set-up, he said, adding that from July 1 2016, house rent and medical allowances of teachers and staff of non-government educational institutions have been increased.

“Construction of new buildings for 1,500 non-government colleges, 3,000 non-government schools and 1,000 non-government madrassas is underway.

Like past years, in FY 2016-17 around 38 lakh students from 6th grade to bachelor degree (pass) and equivalent level have been provided with stipends and other assistances amounting to Tk. 675.38 crore,” the finance minister added.

Source: BSS