THE government introduced education allowance for children of government employees in 2009. A government employee gets Tk 200 per student per month. The maximum is Tk 300 per month. This allowance is a welfare measure of the Awami League-led government for its employees. I appreciate the move of the elected government, but the amount is very insignificant in relation to the current cost of living. It needs review.
After introduction of the new pay scale in 2009, three fiscal years have passed. The average inflation over the last three years has been considerable, which has reduced the real income of the government employees significantly. They are, therefore, confronting serious financial hardship nowadays.
To provide some relief as an interim measure, the elected government can consider enhancing the education allowance for its employees. A government employee may be given education allowance of Tk 500 for a child who studies at the primary level, Tk 700 for one who studies at the secondary level, Tk 800 for the higher secondary level and Tk 1,000 for the degree level per month. Maximum education allowance should be allowed for two children to encourage a small family.
Indeed, the educational expense at college or university per student is far over Tk 1,000 per month nowadays. Due to the financial hardship, most government employees are now finding it difficult to meet the educational expenses of their children.
I would like to urge the government to enhance the education allowance for its employees from FY2012-13.
Md Ashraf Hossain
Ramna, Dhaka