Education budget rises by nearly 57pc
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday proposed an allocation of Tk 1,36,606 crore for the education sector in the national budget for fiscal year 2026-27, marking a substantial increase of nearly 57 per cent over the previous year’s allocation.
Presenting the first budget of the newly elected government in the Jatiya Sangsad, the finance minister said the proposed education allocation represents 2 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), up from Tk 87,206 crore in FY 2025-26.
The increase of Tk 49,400 crore, equivalent to approximately 56.7 per cent,
reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening human capital development and rebuilding the nation’s education system.
The government has also set a target of raising education spending to 5 per cent of GDP within the next five years.
The proposed budget signals a major policy shift from infrastructure-focused spending towards improving educational quality and preparing students for the labour market.
Central to this strategy is the introduction of a competency-based “Learning with Happiness” curriculum designed to foster analytical thinking, ethical values and character development.
“We want to build an education system in which students acquire not only academic knowledge but also real-life competencies such as creativity, problem-solving, leadership, innovation, and teamwork,” he said.
To enhance employability, technical and vocational education will gradually become mandatory from Class VI, ensuring that students acquire at least one market-relevant skill before completing school. Skills training will focus on areas including information technology, agriculture and healthcare.
The government also plans to introduce compulsory third-language education, offering students the opportunity to learn languages such as Japanese, Korean and German.
A new loan facility of up to Tk 10 lakh will be available to support students pursuing higher education abroad.
The budget further proposes a wide-ranging digital transformation of classrooms through the “One Teacher, One Tab” programme.
The initiative includes multimedia classrooms, expanded free Wi-Fi coverage, digital libraries and greater exposure to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and coding.
Teacher development remains a priority, with provisions for regular training programmes, measures to enhance professional status and additional incentives for educators working in rural and remote areas.
The proposed allocation also places significant emphasis on social protection and inclusivity. Free education for girls will be extended up to the graduate level, while students from disadvantaged families will receive uniforms, shoes and school bags.
The government will also expand the Mid-Day Meal Programme and strengthen support for children with disabilities through specialised learning materials and technology.
According to the budget proposal, these initiatives aim to develop a generation of skilled, responsible and innovative citizens capable of contributing to Bangladesh’s long-term economic and social development.
The minister in his speech said, “Education was among the most critically damaged sectors of the state structure during the long years of fascist rule.
Through the July Mass Uprising – which carried the aspirations of the youth and has brought us back to a democratic Bangladesh – we must now build a Bangladesh for our future generations where students grow into honest, competent, skilled, and responsible citizens.”
“Our twin objectives are, on the one hand, to restore discipline, transparency, and accountability to the education sector, and on the other, to ensure an environment for students and teachers in which they can realise their fullest potential through modern education, training, and opportunity,” he added.
