6% GDP for Education…A Worldwide Public Demand…!

First they said "6% GDP is nonsense"; then they said "it is the sum of expenditure on education including that of private sector and parents"; then they said "we are spending more than 6% GDP for education"; then they said "it’s unrealistic"; and now they say "It is our intention to spend a higher percentage of GDP on education, in accordance with the international standards". Not a word about next budget! What will they say tomorrow?

“A leading economist”, one Lalithasiri Gunaruwan, advised us to leave the policy matters to politicians. Pity on this Sunday Observer's "leading economist", he should better follow a 7th grade course in Civics before trying to be an advisor to FUTA.  
6% GDP for education is a worldwide public demand. Students, parents, intellectuals, and civil society organizations in many countries haven't left this "policy matter" only to politicians.  Some stories for your inspiration.

Philippines

In Philippines the demand for 6% GDP for education was initiated by the “Six will Fix” campaign, launched by the “Youth against Debt”.

As Aquino government has failed to reach the target yet, a new Campaign has been launched by the “Education for All”, an alliance of youth and students; parents; school faculty and employees; and concerned citizens. Interestingly, one of their main slogans is: “No to education budget cuts! Re-channel military and debt spending to education! Allocate 6% of GDP to education!”
 

 

 

Dominican Republic

The most recent campaigns for increasing public expenditure in education, launched by The Coalition for Dignified Education in Dominican Republic, demanded an immediate increase up to 4% GDP for education from the 2011 budget. Although then President Leonel Fernandez proposed a 2.75% GDP for education in negotiations, representatives of the coalition did not agree and wowed to continue the campaign with a range of impressive activites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangladesh

Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), a coalition of more than 1300 NGOs involved in literacy and Education in Bangladesh, demands allocating at least 20% of the total budget to education. The coalition has already made an appeal to the Prime minister of Bangladesh. In 2011, Civil society organizations demanded the Right to Education Act in Bangladesh and increase in national budget for education to 6% of GDP.

India

In an earlier post I shared with you the story of “Nine is Mine” campaign which is demanding the Indian goverment to keep the promise of allocating 6% GDP for education and 3% GDP for healthcare.

The present congress-led UPA government established the National Common Minimum Programme(NCMP) in 2004, a strategy that among others identifies the need to give greater importance to social sector expenditure. One of the major objectives of the NCMP is to increase public spending in education to at least 6% of GDP.
6% GDP for education has found a place in election manifestos too. Both BJP and CPI(M) had made it a clear promise. The Hindustan Times on 04, April 2009, carried an interesting comparison.