Over the past few days, there has rightfully been conversation with regard to the new national budget of Bangladesh. And it is a shame that, despite paying lip service to the importance of education in shaping the future of this country, we repeatedly fail to put our money, literally, where our mouths are.
It is no wonder that students across the country have rightfully expressed their dissatisfaction with the ongoing failure of the authorities concerned to allocate a respectable percentage of the budget towards improving our education system - which is and has been in dire need of a reform for some time now.
Indeed, it is a shame that year after year, we allocate such a paltry proportion of the budget towards this sector; the right education for the masses can have a transformative effect on the future of a nation, and yet it appears we are failing to recognize the magnitude of its potential impact.
The demographic dividend Bangladesh currently enjoys must be equipped with the appropriate 21st century skills to guide Bangladesh through the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution and allow it to become Smart Bangladesh. Yet, all of that appears to be a distant reality because we cannot begin to start equipping our leaders of tomorrow with the education and training they require today.
As has been said, this budget is the first to begin our march towards realizing Vision 2041. For subsequent budgets, it is imperative that the authorities concerned recognize that education has, for far too long in this nation, been taking a backseat - and that is simply not acceptable any longer.
