Business-NGO cooperation a must for quality primary edn
They said the business community has to involve themselves in the quality education programme in order to build up a conscious consumers group and good human resources for their corporation.
The meeting on 'Business-NGO sharing: Improving basic education' was organised jointly by Advancing Public Interest Trust (APIT) and MRC-Mode Limited at the Brac Centre Inn in the capital.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. APIT and MRC-Mode Ltd organised the meeting as part of their project titled 'Building corporate constituency for improving basic education sub-sector in Bangladesh' with the support from the Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF).
Speaking at the meeting noted economist Prof Muzaffer Ahmad said, "It is very unfortunate for our children that they are getting primary education in 11 separate ways."
He said the present expenditure per primary student is under $ 8, but for quality education it should be minimum $ 20.
The business community can reduce this resource gap of about $12 by engaging themselves in the education sector, he added.
He said that after completing primary education at a renowned school in the capital, a student gains 67 percent competency rate of quality education. On the other hand, a student of a grassroots level school achieves only 1 percent of that rate.
Prof Muzaffer, who moderated the meeting, said, "To meet this gap, we have to allocate education resources in the reverse way, from grassroots level school to capital level school."
"For quality education, we need quality teachers, but if a teacher has to give a huge bribe in getting job, then how the teacher would give quality education to students," he raised the question.
Prof Muzaffer said the ownership of education is now in the hand of donor agencies, and if it is not handed over from the donors to the government, the quality will not be ensured.
He said there is a huge gap between teacher-student ratio and if this gap is not removed, the quality of education will not be achieved.
Managing Director of Asiatic Marketing Communication Ltd Aly Zaker, said every corporate house has to maintain Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) along with their obligation to the society and earning profit as well.
The corporate houses and business community have to engage themselves to ensure quality education to create conscious consumers, he added.
He also stressed on broader cooperation among the civil society, corporate sector and NGOs.
Senior Awami League leader Nurul Islam Nahid said, "The donor agencies give a lot of fund for the education sector, if we can use the fund properly the quality of education will be ensured.
Chief Executive Officer of Citibank NA Mamun Rashid, Managing Director of Satarupa Textile JL Bhawmik, Managing Director of Araf Apparels Shahriar Alam, Head of Corporate Affairs of Standard Chartered Bank Shah Masud Imam, Programme Director of Save the Children UK David Humphrey, Executive Director of MRC-Mode Ltd Tawfique Ahmed, Programme Officer of CEF Saraana Muzaddid and Country Co-ordinator Mustakim Tanvir, Executive Director of Friendship Hospital Runa Khan and Executive Director of APIT Sabbir Bin Shams also spoke on the occasion.