Corruption and lack of efficiency are the two major weaknesses in the education sector responsible for deterioration of education quality, speakers at a discussion said yesterday.

They also called for a political consensus and a holistic approach for improvement of education quality.

Terming the present allocation for education inadequate, they demanded an increase by five per cent of GDP.

The speakers were giving their observation on a task force report on Education Policy. The report is a part of

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the three-day National Policy Review Forum 2003, jointly organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), The Daily Star, and the Prothom Alo at the Jatiya Press Club.

Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk attended the function as chief guest while former education minister ASHK Sadek attended the function as special guest.

Economist Professor Muzaffer Ahmed presided over the session while Professor Md Masum presented the CPD task force recommendations on Education Policy.

Professor Masum said total public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP increased steadily from 1973-80 on an average of 0.9 per cent to 2.4 per cent in 1994-95. "But since then there has been a downward trend, with the expenditure falling to 2.30 per cent in 2000-01 and 2.21 per cent in 2001-02."

He said the allocation for education in the revenue budget also indicates a downward trend. The allocation dropped from 19.5 per cent of total revenue budget in 1994-95 to 15.9 per cent in 2002-03.

A similar trend is also seen in case of development budget where

the allocation for the education sector declined from 13.6 per cent in 1994-95 to 12.9 per cent in 2001-02.

Allocation for education declined from 16.4 per cent in 1994-95 to 15 per cent in 2001-02, he added.

"Teachers are at the core to improve education quality. They need to meet professional standards and must receive handsome wage," he added.

The University Act of 1973 has to be amended as it has been proved to be non-effective to impart congenial academic atmosphere on the campus.

Nurul Islam Nahid, education secretary of the main opposition Awami League, said education sector has been gripped by a vicious circle and the civil society should come forward to salvage it.

He blamed the government for suspending various steps initiated during the Awami League government. "The party in power did not even bother to give an explanation reasoning the suspension."

Academic Prof. Kabir Chowdhury urged the ruling, opposition and civil society to come up with a holistic approach for the development of the education sector.

Moinul Islam of Dhaka University urged the government to take effective steps for lowering the quality gap between urban and rural education. He termed the prevailing three-tier education system discriminatory.

GM Kader MP blamed a vested quarter for misappropriating education fund.

Former education minister ASHK Sadek underscored the need for political consensus and patience to enhance the quality of education.

He said there has to be a vision and patience for development of the education sector.

Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk differed with the idea of increased allocation for education sector. But he underscored the need for proper utilisation of the allocated funds. "We need to curb wastage and proper utilisation of allocated fund for the sector," he said.

"It is a huge wastage of public money when we see only 30 per cent of examinees come out successful in public examinations. I don't find any logic in spending on unskilled human resources," he added.

We have to improve the quality of

education and curb cheating in the examinations," he said, adding improvement of classroom teaching and morale boosting is the key to stopping cheating in public examinations.

The education minister said a revised education policy would be published within five to six month.

The minister said the Private University Act should be amended and an accreditation council will be formed for improvement of quality of education at private universities.

Prof. Muzaffer Ahmed, who presided over the session, underscored the need for consideration of the task force recommendations for development of the education sector.

Former principal secretary Dr. ANM Eusuf, Jaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, special correspondent of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), Mushfiq Ahmed, a teacher of Rajshahi University, Satish Chandra Sarker of BRAC, Nurul Islam of UNICEF, A.N. Rashed, teacher of Notre Dame College, Munima Sultana, journalist with United News of Bangladesh (UNB), also spoke.