Govt to raise education spending to 5% of GDP within five years: PM tells parliament

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that the government will gradually increase public spending on education to 5% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) over the next five years, aiming to improve education quality, expand infrastructure and bring the student dropout rate close to zero.

Responding to a written question from Naogaon-5 lawmaker Md Zahidul Islam Dholu during the 21st sitting of the second and first budget session of the 13th Parliament today (8 July), the prime minister outlined the government’s education priorities.

He said improving the quality of education had been given special importance in the government’s election manifesto and that the increased allocation would be invested not only in educational infrastructure but also in enhancing teaching standards, particularly by improving teachers’ professional skills at the primary level.

The prime minister said the FY2026-27 budget had, for the first time, raised education spending to 2% of GDP. The increased allocation will support implementation of the new curriculum, teacher training, infrastructure development and measures to reduce student dropout.

Under the Secondary Education Development Programme (SEDP), the government has allocated Tk4,199 crore for the Ministry of Education, including Tk3,599 crore for the Secondary and Higher Education Division and Tk600 crore for the Technical and Madrasah Education Division. Separate schemes have also been included for implementing the national curriculum and teacher training.

In addition, Tk810 crore has been allocated under the Learning Acceleration in Secondary Education project to train 347,021 teachers, heads of educational institutions and related personnel. 

The training will cover subject-based skills, leadership development, ICT, blended learning, mental health, anti-bullying measures, library management and climate change.

For infrastructure development at secondary-level educational institutions, the government has earmarked Tk3,040.9 crore in the FY2026-27 operational budget, including Tk2,196.4 crore for the Secondary and Higher Education Division and Tk844.5 crore for the Technical and Madrasah Education Division.

The prime minister also said five projects, including the Fifth Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP-5), are being implemented to improve infrastructure at primary schools.

To prevent student dropout, the government will continue distributing free textbooks, providing stipends, operating school feeding programmes, distributing school uniforms and supplying sports equipment.

He added that Tk1,300 crore has been allocated in FY2026-27 for free textbook distribution among primary and secondary students, while Tk5,534.75 crore has been earmarked for stipends and merit scholarships for secondary-level students.

The prime minister expressed optimism that sustained investment, improved education quality and continued infrastructure development would help reduce the country’s student dropout rate to near zero.