Government To Provide 17.03 Lakh Poor Students At Higher Secondary Level

Among the total students studying at the secondary level across the country, 40 percent female students and 10 percent male students will be given the stipend under "Higher Secondary Stipend Project".

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) today approved the stipend project involving Taka 513 crore.

ECNEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at the NEC conference room in city's Sher-e- Banglanagar.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal, after the meeting, briefed the reporters about the outcome of the meeting. He said a total of six development projects including the higher secondary stipend project were approved with the outlay of Taka 1,347 crore to be entirely borne by the government from the national exchequer.

At the briefing, he also released the implementation status of Annual Development Programme (ADP). The Planning Minister said ADP implementation rate was 32 per cent in the first seven months of the current fiscal year (2014-15), which was 31 per cent in the previous fiscal.

He said: "If the ministries and division at this moment inform that they would not be able to spend the allocated fund during the stipulated time, the planning commission would take initiative to distribute the money to others."

The planning minister said the 17.03 lakh students will be given stipend in two categories -- Science and others sections.

A student from science section would get a monthly stipend of Taka 175 and tuition fee Taka 50 along with Taka 1,600 at a time for procuring books and examination fee, he said.

Besides, a student selected from other sections would get Taka 125 and Taka 50 as monthly stipend and tuition fee along with the one time allocation of Taka 1,200 for buying books and examination fee, added Mustafa Kamal.

He hoped the initiative would help reduce drop-outs at secondary level as well as encourage science education.

Directorate of Secondary and Higher Secondary is entrusted with implementing the project by June, 2017.

Apart from this stipend project, the planning minister informed, the government is carrying another five stipend projects, of which three are being implemented at secondary, higher secondary and graduate levels.

"The poor students of different areas who are yet to be brought under stipend project would be covered soon, as the government considers the expenditure in education sector as investment," said Mustafa Kamal.

On the other hand, the ECNEC has approved another revised project involving Taka 558 crore to convert selected private schools into model schools situated in 315 Upazila headquarters, where no government school is available.

The project is being implemented since 2009. But, now it will be completed by June, 2016 instead of June, 2014.

The planning minister said implementation period and cost has been increased due to incorporation of new schools in five upazilas.

The days ECNEC gave nod to another project to extend the under construction 7 March Bhaban in Rokeya Hall Compound of Dhaka University to 11-storey building, which would accommodate 500 female students. The project would be implemented by June, 2017 involving Taka 44 crore.

Other projects approved by the ECNEC are: Construction of 93.03 metre long PC Girder Bridge over Alenzani River on Pakua- Delduar-Alasin road and two PC Girdler Bridges on Balia-Warshi- Mirzapur road (TK 54.62 crore), Establishment of Rural Development Academy at Rangpur (TK 107.41), and Development of Nilphamari and Netrokuna District Stadiums and construction or Rangpur Women Sports Complex (TK 69.96 crore).

Ministers and state ministers attended the meeting while members of planning commission and secretaries concerned were also present.