The government is planning to establish 600 model schools and colleges modeled on cadet colleges across the country’s 300 parliamentary constituencies. Under the proposal, one government educational institution each for boys and girls would be built in every constituency. The institutions would be residential, enrolling students from the sixth grade.
On the government’s directive, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has prepared a preliminary draft proposal for establishing the 600 institutions. The project, titled “Construction of 600 Model Schools and Colleges in Selected Areas,” could cost approximately Tk 68,442 crore, according to initial estimates.
There are currently no fully residential government secondary schools in the country. A few older schools and colleges have boarding facilities. Meanwhile, many private residential schools and madrasas have emerged, though their exact number could not be ascertained.
There are 12 cadet colleges in the country — 9 for boys and 3 for girls. The cadet colleges are residential, enrolling students from the seventh grade through HSC.
Many educators and education administrators consider the decision a positive step, saying it would give children from low-income families access to residential education. However, they say a survey is needed to determine where such institutions are most needed. Planned construction in areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts, haor regions such as Sunamganj, char areas, and other remote or educationally underserved and densely populated areas could yield positive results, they said.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report