At a small sublet room in Azimpur, Dhaka, second-year Eden Mohila College student Labiba Khatun is trying to build a better future. Along with attending classes, she works as a private tutor to support her own education and help her family financially.
Labiba lost her father when she was only six years old. After the death of the family's only earning member, her four-member family fell into severe financial hardship. Since then, her mother has taken full responsibility for the family, working in other people's homes and depending on seasonal income to raise her children.
During her school years, Labiba could not afford new textbooks and studied using second-hand books from senior students. When she enrolled in college, her family had to borrow money from relatives to pay the admission fees. Financial difficulties forced her to think about quitting her studies several times, but her determination and her mother's sacrifices helped her continue her education.
Now, the money she earns from private tutoring covers part of her educational expenses, and whenever possible, she sends some money home to support her mother.
Speaking about her future, Labiba said: "My dream is to complete my education and get a good job so that I can reduce my mother's hardships. But for families like ours, higher education is not only a test of merit; it is also a struggle for money. Many times, I thought about giving up my studies."
Like Labiba, thousands of girls from low- and middle-income families across Bangladesh face financial challenges in pursuing higher education. After enrolling in colleges or universities, many struggle to pay for tuition, transportation, books, accommodation and other daily expenses. As a result, some are forced to drop out before completing their degrees.
Against this backdrop, the government announced in the 2026–27 national budget that girls will receive free education up to the undergraduate or degree-pass level. According to the budget speech, the initiative aims to increase women's participation in higher education, reduce dropout rates and develop a skilled workforce. The government has also set a target to increase public spending on education to 5% of GDP within the next five years.
The announcement has already sparked discussion among students, parents and education experts. Many believe the initiative could create new opportunities for girls from low-income families. However, others point out that tuition fees are only one part of the cost of higher education, as students also have to pay for accommodation, transportation, books and daily living expenses.
According to the budget proposal, the government has allocated Tk136,606 crore for the education and technology sectors in the 2026–27 fiscal year. Besides introducing free undergraduate education for girls, the budget also includes plans to expand financial support for poor students, promote technology-based education, strengthen teacher training, invest in research and innovation, and expand technical and vocational education.
Despite the new announcement, education financing has remained a long-standing concern in Bangladesh. According to education experts and international organizations, the country's public spending on education is still lower than global recommendations.
According to the Unesco Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2026, countries should invest 4–6% of their GDP or 15–20% of total public expenditure in education to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). Compared with this benchmark, Bangladesh's investment in education remains relatively low.
The report also highlights Bangladesh's significant progress in education over the past three decades. The primary school completion rate increased from 34% in 1990 to 90% in 2024, while the lower secondary completion rate rose from 23% to 74% during the same period. However, economic inequality, child marriage, family responsibilities and social barriers continue to limit many girls' access to higher education.
According to the 2024 Bangladesh Education Statistics published by BANBEIS, girls' participation in secondary and higher secondary education has increased significantly over the years. However, many students still struggle to continue their education after enrolling in higher education because of financial hardship. For students from low-income families, the biggest challenges often come after admission, including the costs of accommodation, transportation, books and other education-related expenses.
The World Bank Human Capital Update 2025 says that increasing women's participation in higher education benefits not only individuals but also the country's economy. Higher education improves women's employment opportunities and earnings, increases labour force participation and productivity, and supports long-term economic growth. The report describes investment in education as one of the most effective ways to develop human capital in developing countries.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), in its analysis of the 2026–27 national budget, welcomed the increase in education spending but stressed that effective implementation is the key to success. According to CPD, increasing the budget alone is not enough. The benefits must reach poor and marginalised students through transparent, accountable and efficient use of public funds.
These findings suggest that the government's decision to provide free undergraduate education for girls is an important policy initiative. However, its success will largely depend on how effectively the programme is implemented and whether students from disadvantaged families can truly benefit from it.
The government's announcement has raised hopes among many low-income families, who see the initiative as a chance to keep their daughters in higher education.
Mumtaz Begum, a mother of three from Khulna, said her husband's limited income is barely enough to support the family. Continuing her children's education has always been a daily struggle.
She said: "Many people tell us that there is no need to educate a daughter so much and that we should arrange her marriage instead. But I want my daughter to stand on her own feet. If the government truly implements free undergraduate education, it will be a great support for families like ours."
Degree second-year student Ayat Mehzabin shared a similar experience. She said many girls in her area are unable to continue their education after completing the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) because of financial hardship. Some take up jobs, while others get married.
"I also thought about leaving my studies several times because my family found it very difficult to bear the expenses," she said.
She also said: "If this policy is implemented properly, we will not have to give up our education because of money. It will give many girls in rural areas the courage to dream again."
Teachers also welcomed the government's initiative but stressed that tuition fee waivers alone will not solve the problem.
Md Jamal Khandaker, a teacher at Government Titumir College, said many talented female students from rural areas drop out of higher education because of financial difficulties.
He said: "Free undergraduate education is definitely a positive step. However, accommodation, transportation, books, digital devices and other education-related expenses are also major burdens for many families. These costs should also be addressed if the policy is to achieve its goal."
Women's rights activists have also described the initiative as an important policy decision while calling for a clear implementation plan.
Mahin Sultan, a member of Naripaksha, said expanding access to higher education for girls is essential, but proper implementation is equally important.
She said: "Making the announcement is only the first step. The government needs to clearly explain who will receive the benefit, how it will be implemented and how the process will be monitored. Special attention should be given to girls from poor and marginalised families so that they can truly benefit from the program."
Education experts believe that improving access to higher education requires more than waiving tuition fees. They say expanding scholarships, ensuring safe and affordable accommodation, providing low-interest education loans, improving access to digital learning tools and strengthening student support services are equally important. Without these measures, many talented students may still find higher education beyond their reach because of financial hardship.
Several South Asian countries have already introduced different policies and incentives to expand girls' education. In India, the central and state governments provide scholarships, tuition fee waivers, bicycles and cash assistance for female students. Sri Lanka has long offered free tuition at public universities, while Nepal runs special scholarship programmes for women and students from disadvantaged communities.
Education analysts believe that if Bangladesh successfully implements its plan, it could become another important example in the region of promoting equal access to higher education for women.
However, experts point out that the cost of higher education goes far beyond tuition fees. For many students who move to Dhaka and other major cities, monthly expenses for accommodation, food, transportation, books, internet access and other study-related needs make higher education difficult to afford. Many students take private tutoring or part-time jobs to support themselves while studying.
According to experts, the government's initiative will have the greatest impact if it is supported by additional measures such as scholarships, safe and affordable student housing, education loans and better financial assistance for students from low-income families.
The announcement of free undergraduate education for girls in the 2026–27 national budget is therefore more than just a budget proposal. It is an important policy commitment to reduce financial barriers to higher education and create greater opportunities for women. However, the success of the initiative will depend on timely implementation, adequate funding, transparency and ensuring that the benefits reach those who need them most.
Labiba said: "We don't want this opportunity to remain only on paper. If it is truly implemented, it could change the lives of many girls like me. Then no girl will have to give up her education simply because of a lack of money."
