Non-Formal Education Bill tabled

The government has placed Non-Formal Education Bill, 2014 in Parliament with the aim to constitute a separate board.

Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman tabled the bill on Tuesday.

It was then sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education for scrutiny. The committee will submit its report in a month.

The Cabinet on June 23 approved the final draft of the Bill aimed at widening the reach and raising the quality of non-formal education.

With the final enactment of the draft law, the government would set up a Non-Formal Education Board along with eight general, Madrasa and vocational boards.

The director general of the Bureau of Non-Formal Education will be heading this board.

The board authorities will oversee curriculum and other issues, while the bureau will work to extend the coverage of non-formal education and improve its standards.

According to the Bill, school dropouts (those who are aged from eight to 18 and cannot get primary education) will be offered this non-formal learning opportunity.

For nonformal adult and continuing education the age limit will be 15 and above, people who have never gone to school or dropped out of primary.

Any violation of the law or its obstruction would invite six months in jail and a fine of Tk 50,000.

Bengali will be the medium of learning, but in case of ethnic minorities their own language will be the medium, according to the Bill.