ECNEC approves Tk 2,511-crore project to expand science education

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved a Tk 2,511.51-crore project to expand the scope for science education in 200 government colleges across the country, reports BSS.

The approval came from the 3rd ECNEC meeting of the current fiscal year at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar held with ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said a total of nine projects involving an overall estimated cost of Tk 7,539.13 crore were approved today.

“Of the total project cost, Taka 6,751.66 crore will come from the GoB portion, Tk 258.57 crore from the organisation’s own fund while the rest of Tk 528.90 crore from project assistance,” he said.

Of the approved nine projects, eight are new while one is a revised project.

The Planning Minister said the Secondary and Higher Education Division under the Ministry of Education will implement ‘the Expansion of Science Education project’ by June 2021.

Noting that the importance of science and technology is indispensable in the current world, Kamal said the interest of the country’s students and youth folks has declined over science education in recent times.

According to the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, students in science education section have declined by 11.12 percent compared to arts and commerce education at the higher secondary level during 1990 to 2013.

So, Kamal said, there is no alternative to taking immediate measures to remove the barriers in science education.

Under the circumstances, the project has been placed and approved which aims to increase infrastructural facilities in some 200 government colleges to expand science education side by side increasing the capacity of the teachers and increasing scope for conducting researches in science and technology.

The main project operations include construction of one six-storey academic building in 176 government colleges having rooms for teachers, classrooms, IT lab-cum-language rooms, multipurpose halls, common rooms, rest rooms, upward extension of existing academic buildings in 18 colleges alongside renovation of academic buildings in six colleges, construction of 164-seat male and female hostels in 47 colleges, and providing ICT equipments, furniture and office equipments to some 200 government colleges and 47 hostels.