City Desk :
Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury has sharply criticised English medium and elite schools in the country for what he perceives as financial mismanagement and lack of infrastructure development despite demanding high tuition fees.
“Why are many English medium schools unable to build their own campuses with fees which are a thousand times higher?” Minister Chowdhury questioned, highlighting his concerns over temporary facilities and profit retention by school entrepreneurs.
Speaking at the inauguration of the ‘DNCC Smart School Bus Service’ by Dhaka North City Corporation on Wednesday (July 3), Minister Chowdhury expressed dismay over the disparity between fees collected and facilities provided by these schools.
The DNCC initiative aims to alleviate traffic congestion exacerbated by school-related transport.
Initially, three buses equipped with GPS trackers, GIS technology, digital attendance, and IP cameras will serve students of Banani Bidyaniketan School and College.
In response to queries about leaked question papers on social media, the minister declined to comment on negative aspects but emphasised his support for positive educational reforms.
Mayor Atiqul Islam of Dhaka North City Corporation underscored the urgency of school transport services to mitigate daily traffic woes, acknowledging the impact of educational institutions on city congestion.
The initiative marks a proactive step towards easing traffic burdens in the capital, aligning with broader efforts to improve urban mobility and educational access.
According to BANBEIS’ 2023 statistics, there are approximately 350 English medium schools in the country recognised by the Board of Education under the Bangladesh Ministry of Education.
On average, families typically spend between Tk 200,000 to Tk 400,000 per year on their children’s education at a standard English medium school.