DHAKA (UCAN): The government of Bangladesh announced on January 9 that it will nationalise all non-government primary schools in the country, with the exception of Catholic-run institutions, which will maintain their independence.

To be fully implemented by next January, nationalisation will see 26 of the 193 non-government primary schools being fully funded by the government at an annual cost of over 12 billion taka ($1.16 billion), according to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry.