In the upcoming budget, education must receive higher allocation

Globally, it is recommended that national budgets allocate at least 20% or 6–8% of GDP to the education sector. However, in Bangladesh, education consistently receives less than what is necessary. Crafting a national budget for a densely populated country like ours, amid global economic uncertainty, is undoubtedly a complex task. It cannot be strictly guided by conventional economic rules. Education remains one of the most crucial sectors for the social, economic, moral, and intellectual development of a nation. It is directly tied to the awakening of citizens’ intellect, thought processes, strength, and sense of purpose. Unfortunately, the state continues to fall short in taking the necessary measures for the development of this vital sector.

A major problem lies in the insufficient budgetary allocation for educational advancement. Compared to neighboring countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh spends significantly less on education. Meanwhile, there are other sectors in Bangladesh receiving high or increasing allocations—even if they are not particularly productive—while education funding continues to stagnate or decline.

One key reason for the high unemployment rate among graduates is the wide gap between the education they receive and the skills demanded by the job market. As the population has continued to grow since independence, budget sizes have naturally expanded over the years. Thus, what we recognize as the national budget is essentially a financial plan for the comprehensive development of the people, including provisions for social safety and essential services.

Budget allocation is largely influenced by a country’s population and socioeconomic conditions. A smaller, well-managed population typically allows for reduced spending in various sectors. However, even if Bangladesh progresses in education, the current system lacks a clear direction to promote self-employment or reduce unemployment. The budget should include clear strategies to address the unemployment crisis. Education is widely referred to as the backbone of a nation—just as a creature cannot stand or move without a spine, no nation can progress without education.

Each year, budget discussions—both before and after the budget is passed—seem to echo similar themes, whether in GDP growth rates or sectoral allocations. This year is no exception, though the national context has changed. Expectations from the current government are high. While the administration faces some constraints in adopting new development strategies, it is no longer bound by certain political compulsions of the past. For instance, there is hope that the government will now present realistic growth targets and actual past performance figures, replacing the inflated numbers and overly ambitious goals of previous years. Doing so would set the stage for practical, achievable objectives for the coming fiscal year.

Several urgent issues—such as increasing employment opportunities and improving the quality of education and healthcare—have been long overlooked. The absence of appropriate strategies and budget allocations in these areas has left the core drivers of the economy underutilized, while youth remain deprived. They witness glaring inequality, which has begun to fuel discontent. Therefore, this year’s budget must prioritize young people by promoting employment-generating investments and increasing allocations not only for education and training but also ensuring their effective use through well-structured action plans to prepare the youth for the future.

The education and healthcare sectors deserve significantly larger allocations—ideally double the current figures. Although these demands are raised during pre-budget discussions every year, they are often ignored. However, given this year’s unique context, we can reasonably hope for change. Increasing the budget for education and health now will create a benchmark that future elected governments may be hesitant to roll back. This is the right time to do something new. Still, it must be understood that simply raising the education budget will not improve quality unless bold and meaningful steps are taken in how the funds are utilized.

An important consideration for this year's budget planning is the deepening inequality in the country over the past two decades—not just income inequality, but also inequality in access to opportunities. People have been denied the respect, recognition, and participation they deserve in national development. Youth aspirations have been crushed, pushing them towards dependence. The upcoming budget must include practical measures to reverse this trend—not just empty words or promises, but actionable steps that can be implemented quickly. Even if not everything can be achieved in one year, a two-to-three-year action plan with clear targets and an initial year of funding can be a good start.

The growing inequality between urban and rural areas is most glaring in the education and healthcare sectors. In simple terms, good schools and colleges are located in cities, and quality hospitals are in distant urban centers. Even calling it an urban-rural divide fails to capture the full picture—it’s more like everything is concentrated in just two or three major cities. While it’s unrealistic to expect full infrastructure development in every village, if district and divisional cities were well-developed, there would be greater geographic equity in quality services and employment opportunities.

Efforts to reduce rural-urban disparity must be visible. Closely tied to this is the issue of agriculture, which is essentially a question of farmers’ livelihoods. Though agriculture does receive budget allocations, much of it goes to physical infrastructure, subsidies, or tax breaks for machinery. While mechanization is important for increasing productivity, we must also consider what happens to the laborers who lose their jobs in the process.

Research shows a decline in the number of micro and small entrepreneurs, which has reduced their share in total employment. Meanwhile, large businesses have increased their dominance in the labor market, exacerbating inequality. If the government genuinely wants to address this, the upcoming budget offers an opportunity to implement some real, targeted measures. Employment generation, supporting micro and small entrepreneurs, and expanding their opportunities will yield quick benefits. On the other hand, boosting education and healthcare quality through increased allocations will have medium-term impact.

Regardless of the curriculum, it is the teachers who bring it to life. Therefore, under the current education system, teachers must take greater responsibility in their instruction. Though Bangladesh has made progress in education, inequalities still persist. Every government develops education policies aimed at nation-building and sustainable development. Yet, despite all the investments in designing policies, changing syllabi, and developing curricula, little attention is paid to addressing salary disparities among teachers.

There are stark inequalities between government and private school teachers. In developed countries, teachers are highly respected and do not need to protest for their rights. As education shapes a nation’s progress and fosters moral values, the system must be better funded. Just as teachers in advanced countries are highly skilled and honored, we also have many dedicated educators in Bangladesh who are working hard to enhance their students' abilities.

A modern, science-minded, and skilled population can only emerge from a robust and future-ready education system—delivered by competent teachers. But how can teachers focus on classroom instruction if they are struggling financially? That question must be addressed by the government.

In conclusion, there is no alternative to education for human development. History shows that countries that have invested in education have reached the pinnacle of progress. Education is the key to national transformation and prosperity. Hence, increased budgetary allocation for education and training is not just desirable but essential—along with immediate steps to ensure its effective use through well-crafted action plans aimed at empowering the youth. Education not only transforms individuals but also plays a pivotal role in establishing democratic values, justice, good governance, and a secular state. To improve socio-economic conditions and living standards, the development of teachers is indispensable. Addressing their long-standing grievances and inequalities is critical. Additionally, the budget must ensure funds for basic student welfare facilities—such as playgrounds, sanitation, and clean drinking water—which have often been overlooked in previous plans. For all these reasons, a substantial allocation for the education sector in this year’s budget is absolutely vital.

The writer is a researcher and columnist.