‘State responsible for high cost migration’
Staff Reporter :
Foreign Affairs Advisor of the interim government, Touhid Hossain, has said, “People of our country have to spend 5–7 times more than others to go abroad as migrant workers, and this is a failure of the state. For this, the people of the country need to be transformed into human resources.”
He said this on Sunday afternoon while speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting with students and local dignitaries at the playground of Magura High School in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district, where he attended as a former distinguished student.
The Foreign Affairs Advisor said, “Over the past 60 years, an extraordinary transformation has taken place in the country’s education sector. In particular, women’s education has progressed remarkably. In rural schools now, more than half of the students are female.”
He added, “Student attendance alone is not the improvement of education; its influence on the state leads to improvement in quality. Despite this progress, the budget allocation in the education sector is still unsatisfactory.”
He further suggested that 25% of the national budget needs to be allocated to education.
Mentioning that teachers’ salaries and allowances have not increased proportionately with the improvement of education, the advisor said, “Compared to the past, teachers’ salaries and allowances have increased somewhat.”
Emphasizing the need for improving the quality of education and teachers, he said, “In many cases there used to be a trend of passing students without proper learning. Efforts are now being made to overcome that situation.
It’s not enough to simply increase the allocation; we must focus on enhancing quality. Along with increasing funds, ensuring proper utilization is equally important.”
He also said, “Education should receive 5% of the GDP. Because of the lack of quality education, our workers are getting deceived even after going abroad.”
He noted that Bangladeshi migrant workers receive 75% less wages compared to workers from other countries.
Advisor Touhid Hossain mentioned that he had the opportunity to study at this school because of his father’s government job posting. At that time, the school was housed in a worn-out tin-shed building.
Dogs and livestock used to enter through the gaps in the tin fences. Although there were not as many students as today, the quality of education was good. He shared that many childhood memories are associated with this school.
The program was presided over by Magura High School’s head teacher, Abdul Kuddus. Special guests included Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nayiruzzaman, Superintendent of Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam, Acting Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tonima Zaman Tonni, Magura Union Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Mithu, among others.