Global Action Week 2011 in Bangladesh concluded with a Round Table on Right to Education: Ensuring Acces with Equity and Quality held on Saturday May 7, 2011 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel , Dhaka. The speakers included the Hon’ble Minister for Education Nurul Islam Nahid MP, Prof R Govinda, VC, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA) Delhi. Dr Keith Lewin from Sussex University, UK, Dr Manzoor Ahmed, Adviser BUIED, Rasheda K Choudhury, Executive Director, CAMPE, Prof Sadeka Halim, Information Commissioner and other academics, researchers, representative of Teachers Union, Women’s Group etc.

Rasheda K Choudhury, the Coordinator of the Global Action Week in Bangladesh in her welcome remarks stated, "We need such a discussion to create pressure on the policy makers for getting a Right to Education Act in place and ensure the achievement of EFA with quality and equity". She welcomed the media for taking interest in such an issue and hoped that they will continue to promote issues related to education in order to raise public awareness.

Dr Govinda said, "We are happy to have the Right To Education Act in India but we are also facing challenges while implementing it. All others demanding Right to Education Act could learn from our experience". He explained why the Act was necessary despite all commitments by the Indian government to ensure Education for All. The Right to Education gave people particularly those who came from ethnic groups and the lowest caste to demand education for everybody. It also assured state’s responsibility to provide quality Education.

Prof Sadeka Halim, Commissioner, Right to Information Commission said, "It is not enough to have a Right to Education Act, people must also have access to information at the right time and place".

The distinguished speakers echoed unanimously that it was essential to have a Right to Education Act promulgated for proper implementation of the National Education Policy. 2010 (NFP) of Bangladesh. They also demanded an increase of the education budget to 6% of the GDP or 20% of the National Budget...
 

The Chief Guest, Hon’ble Minister Nurul Islam Nahid in his response said, "I do understand that it is not enough to just have a National Education Policy. The challenge is its full implementation. Right to Education Act is necessary to reduce the increasing inequality and inequity in our society. The government is seriously considering enactment of such an act". He assured that he will try his best to get an increased budget allocation for education and also take up measures to implement the NEP but he will require support from all sections of people.

Prof Mahfuza Khanam, Secretary General, Bangladesh Asiatic Society as the Chair of the meeting in her closing speech said, "Whether we have a Right to Education Act or not, an increased budget or not, what is important above everything else is the political commitment to bring about the desired changes".

The program was jointly organized by CAMPE, CREATE AND BU-IED.

 

Click here for Newspaper Clippings of the Seminar

Click here to see Pictures of the GAW 2011 Events in Bangladesh