BUDGETARY ALLOCATION IN PRIMARY EDUCATION OF BANGLADESH: A RIGHT BASED ANALYSIS

Abstract

Education stands out as the best cost-effective means increasing human capital, reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development. Universal primary education is likely to give developing countries the human capital boost necessary to bring large segments of the population out of poverty. This is why investing in  primary education becomes the top priorty to policy makers of many countries including Bangladesh. Bangladesh is facing gigantic challenges like variations in teacher student ratio, lack of qualified and trained teachers,  variety in primary education systems, disparity and lack of coordination among primary educational institutions, which constrain the attainment of universal primary education and  its effort to increase enrollments and quality education. Bangladesh, despite of being signatory state to international treaties and having national legislation, is yet to enforce right to education as fundamental right and there is no instrument to compel State to the full realization of right to primary education. Hence this article emphasises on increasing the financial allocation of primary education as a tool to reduce these challenges. Budget analysis through right based approach can examine this priority as it can help to quantify the steps that the State is taking to achieve progressively the full realization of the right to education.