The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights adopted demand led intervention policies such as the food for education program and the stipend program for primary education. The government has completed the Primary Education Development Program (PEDP-II) and taken initiatives to implement PEDP III. The Bangladesh Awami League-led present government is committed to undertaking structural reforms Allocations for Education that are expected 4.00 30.00 to bring significant improvements in the 20.00 education sector. The commitment has 2.00 10.00 been brought to light on 31 May 2010 after 0.00 approval of the National FY06 FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 Education Policy which 0.00 -10.00 says primary education As share of GDP % change over previous year will be free for all and compulsory up to class12.1% (Tk. 19806 crore)of total budget allocated for education sector. VIII and stipends would As share of GDP: 2.2% in FY 12 be given to students on Source: Dialogue on State of Bangladesh Economy: Analysis of the national the basis of results in budget FY2011- 12, CPD and IBRD, Dhaka, 18 June 2011. class V. The Perspective plan of Bangladesh 2010- 2021 states ‘Education is directly linked to the building of a dynamic economy, an efficient system of governance and secular democracy and an enlightened progressive society. Illiteracy and democracy cannot run together. Recent experiences of developing countries suggest that successful implementation of population policies such as delayed on-set of marriage and child birth, and reduction in family size, depends to a great extent upon successful education of girls. Education, health, nutrition, family size and employment reinforce each other.’ The specific objective of this plan regarding education is to eliminate illiteracy by 2014 and attain hundred per cent enrolment in the 12th class by 2021 with gender parity, addressing the dropout problem at the primary and secondary levels. Implementation of the National Education Policy is planned by 2019. On the other hand, the 38 Bangladesh government has internationally committed to reach EFA and the MDGs by 2015. As a follow-up of the Dakar Conference 2000, Bangladesh is now implementing the National Action Plan II (NPA II), 2003-2015. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME), as the lead agency, is entrusted with the responsibility of addressing the specific goals of the Dakar Framework. A major concern of the Framework is the issue of quality of education. The Framework maintains that ensuring equity of access through addressing socio-cultural, financial and structural impediments to the children’s full and equal participation is not enough. If the overall system of education suffers from poor quality, even equitable access will contribute little to the process of empowerment, a vital ingredient of the right to education. Following the Dakar Framework, NPA II identifies five major operational goals to be reached by the year 2015: (i) Expanded and improved early childhood care and education for survival, growth, learning and development; (ii) Universal and free access to basic education for all children with special emphasis on excluded groups; (iii) Universal access to basic learning opportunities and skills programmes for all young people and adults; (iv) Achievement by all learners of nationally defined objectively measured levels in literacy, numeracy and life skills; and (v) Elimination of gender disparity in primary and lower levels by 2005 and full and equal access to and effective participation in basic education of women and girls. 39