Education Stipend Programme for the Student with Disabilities
People with disabilities are an integral part of society. Along with the development of civilization, there is a noticeable change in the attitude and sense of responsibility of the family, society, state and the world community towards the disabled population. Recently, various countries have taken various steps for the welfare and development of disabled people and have pledged to take different plans on disability issues in international forums.
The Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was approved at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly, which entered into force as international human rights law on May 3, 2008. The Government of Bangladesh has signed and ratified the said Charter and has also signed and ratified its optional implementing regulations. Articles 15, 17, 20 and 29 of the Bangladesh Constitution provide equal opportunities and rights to persons with disabilities along with other citizens. Article 15 (d) of the Constitution states that the right to social security, i.e. the right to receive government assistance in the event of poverty due to unemployment, sickness or disability or widowhood, parentlessness or old age or similar circumstances. Schedule 11 (a) of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013- provides for ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities, particularly destitute and helpless children with disabilities, women with disabilities and elderly persons with disabilities, in the existing social safety net and poverty alleviation programmes, on a phased basis. has been As a backward section, Bangladesh government is giving special importance to disabled people. As a part of its constitutional responsibility to provide social security, the government is implementing the 'Education Scholarship Scheme for Disabled Students' through the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare.
Program Start Year:
In order to establish the constitutional rights of the disabled people and to help the poor, helpless, underprivileged disabled children and adolescents to get education, the 'Education Scholarship Program for Disabled Students' has been introduced from the financial year 2007-08. In the beginning, the number of students receiving stipends in this program was 12 thousand 209 people; The monthly stipend rate was Tk.300 at primary level, Tk.450 at secondary level, Tk.600 at higher secondary level and Tk.1000 at higher level. The number of students receiving stipend and the rate of stipend have also been increased gradually. At present 750 taka are being paid at primary level, 800 taka at secondary level, 900 taka at higher secondary level and 1300 taka at higher level.
Aims and Objectives of the Programme:
1. Social protection, welfare and development of disabled students;
2. Empowerment and gradual mainstreaming of students with disabilities;
3. Increase morale by educating students with disabilities in educational institutions, increasing attendance rates, preventing dropouts;
4. Increasing the participation rate of children with disabilities in national development;
5. Inculcating social values and morals among students with disabilities;
6. Encouraging the interest of poor students with disabilities in higher education by increasing their interest in education;
7. To play a role in achieving various goals by including in the short, medium and long term plans adopted by the government for the welfare and social protection of students with disabilities.
Definition: Person with Disability means a person with any form of disability as defined in Section 2 Sub-section (10) of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013. For example-
(a) Autism or autism spectrum disorder
(b) Physical disability
(c) Mental illness leading to disability
(d) Visual disability
(e) Speech disability
(f) Intellectual disability
(g) Hearing disability
(h) Deaf-blindness
(j) Cerebral palsy
(A) Down syndrome
(k) Multiple disabilities and
(l) Other disability.
Program Scope:
a) Disabled students studying in various educational institutions all over Bangladesh will be “covered.
b) Educational Institutions covered under Education Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities:
1. Various educational institutions under the control of the Ministry of Social Welfare;
2. Government, registered private and government registered private primary schools;
3. Government and private secondary schools;
4. Government and private colleges;
5. All madrasahs recognized by the government;
6. Government and Government approved medical colleges;
7. Public and government approved universities;
8. Government approved technical education institutions;
9. All categories of disabled educational institutions run by private/voluntary organizations recognized by the government.
Student Selection Criteria:
1. Candidate must be a permanent citizen of Bangladesh;
2. Must be 5 years of age or older;
3. In awarding the stipend, the level of disability should be taken into consideration in the order of severe, moderate and mild.
4. Priority should be given to students from disadvantaged, refugee and landless families with disabilities;
5. Preference will be given to students from educational institutions with disabilities run by the Department of Social Services/ National Disability Development Foundation/ Voluntary Institutions recognized by the Government.
6. Students with disabilities affected by burns, natural calamities or any other reason will get the highest priority in selection.
7. Orphans/orphans, destitute, tribal students with disabilities and street children with disabilities should be given priority consideration in providing stipend.
Eligibility and Conditions of Scholarship Recipient:
1. Must be disabled as defined in the 'Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013';
2. Must be 5 years of age or older;
3. According to Section 31 of the Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013, registration and identification as persons with disabilities shall be accepted;
4. Must be a disabled student studying in an educational institution covered by the Education Scholarship Program for Disabled Students;
5. Enrolled students must have at least 50% class attendance per month;
6. Enrolled students must pass the annual examination along with participating in the regular examination;
7. Relaxation on reasonable grounds for newly admitted students with disabilities; But the latter must be qualified;
8. Must be a disabled student from the relevant catchment area of the school;
Ineligibility for Stipend:
1. Unless included in the Disability Naturalization Survey Program.
2. If not studying in an educational institution recognized by the government;
3. If disabled students are employed in any government/private institution;
4. In receipt of any other allowance given by the Government or stipend given by the Department of Education.
Level and Amount of Stipend:
The stipend is paid in 4 (four) semesters to students with learning disabilities in the class structure of education. Which is as follows:
|
SL No. |
Course of Education Stage |
Class |
Monthly stipend amount |
Number of students
|
|
1. |
Primary level |
Class one to Class Five/Equivalent Class |
750 Tk.
|
62000 students |
|
2. |
Secondary level |
Class Six to Class Ten/Equivalent Class |
800 Tk.
|
26000 students
|
|
3. |
Higher Secondary level |
Class XI and XII/Equivalent Class |
900 Tk.
|
8000 students
|
|
4. |
Higher Education level |
Graduate and Post Graduate/Equivalent Class |
1300 Tk. |
4000 students |
Name of Service Provider Office:
Upazila/City Social Service Office (All)
Responsible Officer/Employee:
1. Upazila / City Social Service Officer
2. Assistant Social Service Officer
3. Field Supervisor
4. Union/municipal social workers
5. Technical Trainer
Service Delivery Procedures (In Brief):
Students with disabilities studying in government-recognised educational institutions who have received golden citizen cards under the Disability Identification Survey Program conducted by the Department of Social Services have to apply to the Upazila/City Social Services Officer in the prescribed form. According to the policy, the scholarship students are selected after scrutiny by the concerned committee. Earlier, bank account was opened in the name of the student/legal guardian by informing the head of the educational institution or the guardian to withdraw the stipend amount. From the financial year 2020-21, the monthly allowance of all disabled students is being paid through mobile financial service provider cash, BKash on GTUP (Government to Person) system.
Year wise disability stipend budget and number of beneficiaries:
|
|
Fund
|
Number of Beneficiaries in Persons |
|
2007-08 |
50.00 |
12,209 |
|
2008-09 |
60.00 |
13,041 |
|
2009-10 |
80.00 |
17,150 |
|
2010-11 |
88.00 |
18,620 |
|
2011-12 |
88.00 |
18,620 |
| 2012-13 | 88.00 |
18,620 |
| 2013-14 | 97.00 |
20,420 |
| 2014-15 | 255.60 |
50,000 |
| 2015-16 | 418.80 |
60,000 |
| 2016-17 | 478.80 |
70,000 |
| 2017-18 | 544.80 |
80,000 |
|
2018-19 |
803.70 | 90,000 |
|
2019-20 |
956.40 | 100000 |
| 2020-21 | 956.40 |
100000 |
|
2021-22 |
956.40 | 100000 |
|
2022-23 |
956.40 | 100000 |
Next remedial officer in case of failure to get specified service:
1. Chairman, Upazila Parishad / Upazila Executive Officer (Concerned Upazila)
2. Deputy Director, District Social Service Office (Concerned District)
3. Chairman, Hill District / District Commissioner / Non (Concerned District)
4. Director (Social Security), Directorate of Social Services
5. Director, Divisional Social Service Office (Department concerned)
Relevant Acts/Rules/Policies:
1. Policy for Implementation of Education Scholarship Scheme for Students with Disabilities, 2013
2. Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2013
Planning and Implementation: Cabinet Division, A2I, BCC, DoICT and BASIS
Technical Assistance:
