Govt Moves to Ensure Free Education for Disabled Poor

The government has taken an initiative to ensure fully free education for poor students with disabilities across the country, with implementation expected within the next year.

The decision is part of a set of short-term measures adopted following proposals submitted at the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference held in May. The initiative aims to expand access to education for financially disadvantaged students with disabilities and reduce barriers to learning.

The proposal for free education was put forward by the Deputy Commissioner of Barishal and has since been approved for implementation. The Cabinet Division recently directed the Education Ministry to take necessary steps to execute the decision.

As part of the same one-year action plan, the government also plans to recruit Assistant Teachers for ICT and Hindu Religion, along with Assistant Teacher-Librarians, in all government secondary schools. Authorities have further decided to create official websites for private educational institutions using government domains.

Officials said the Cabinet Division has categorised 12 education-related decisions into short-, medium- and long-term plans, with implementation timelines ranging from one to five years.

According to Cabinet Division officials, several proposals are submitted annually during the Deputy Commissioners’ Conference, and priority measures are selected for implementation based on urgency and importance.

At present, around 81,000 poor and disadvantaged students with disabilities receive stipends through the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare. Students receive Tk 900 at the primary level, Tk 950 at the secondary and higher secondary levels, and Tk 1,300 at the tertiary level.

Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics show that educational participation among persons with disabilities aged 5–24 remains low, standing at 53 percent in primary education, 37.47 percent at the secondary level and only 9.51 percent in higher education.

As part of medium-term measures to be implemented within three years, the government plans to establish a separate Directorate of Secondary Education. Other proposals include introducing agro-based subjects at Naogaon University and revising provisions of the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1980.

Long-term plans include constructing multi-storey academic and administrative buildings at newly nationalised schools and colleges, establishing new universities in several districts, and setting up an agricultural college in Bogura.

Officials said all ministries concerned have been instructed to submit monthly progress reports to ensure effective implementation of the decisions adopted at the conference.