CPD study says poor economic conditions, early marriage among reasons to blame
Primary schools Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, and Nilphamari are seeing an increase in their drop-out rate, despite enrolment rates being high, revealed a recent Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) study.
The findings were unveiled during a dialogue titled "Government Investment in Primary Education: Local Experiences and Our Duties," held in the capital today.
Senior Research Fellow at CPD Towfiqul Islam Khan presented the study, which involved 408 respondents, including teachers, students, parents, and stakeholders from government and non-governmental organisations across the three districts.
The survey uncovered several factors leading to the rising number of drop-outs-- elevated child marriage, poor economic conditions, and lack of awareness and resources in educational institutions. It also presented several probable remedies and recommendations to counter the situation.
According to the report, 14 of the 30 surveyed schools had inadequate classrooms which hampers the deliverance of quality education.
In addition, 22 out of 30 schools had no libraries for their students, defying the government's directive of ensuring a library for each school.
"Only six teachers were seen on average at each of the schools. The shortage compels teachers to conduct classes in multiple shifts, degrading the quality of education. They also need more administrative staff for smooth operations," said Towfiqul.
The study also recommended recruiting dedicated teachers for co-curricular activities and arranging comprehensive training programmes aligned with the new curriculum, as 80 percent of the surveyed schools lacked these resources.
Only 20.36 percent of students in Gaibandha, 26.02 percent in Thakurgaon, and 18.41 percent in Nilphamari have access to the internet, mentions the study.
Furthermore, the rising child marriage rate in Gaibandha (43.70 percent, which surpasses the national average of 32.36 percent) is one of the major contributors to the increasing drop-out rate.
"The government must start implementing mid-day meal programmes to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Stipend amounts should be increased and other incentives must to put out to the students to mitigate these issues,' said CPD fellow Prof Mustafizur Rahman.
Member of the parliamentary standing committee on Primary and Mass Education Ministry Shirin Akhter said, "We need to arrange more training programmes for our teachers and make them capable of observing their students' needs."
She also promised to include the research findings and recommendations in her meeting agenda.
Talking as the chief guest Local Government and Rural Development Minister Tajul Islam said, "We need to make a comprehensive effort to address the challenges. Parents, teachers, and other local stakeholders need to step up too."
The CPD, in collaboration with the European Union, Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, and Eco-Social Development Organisation (ESDO), organised three prior dialogues in Gaibandha, Thakurgaon, and Nilphamari on the same theme.
These sessions facilitated a platform for over 600 stakeholders to share their experiences and offer recommendations aimed at improving primary education in the region.
Syed Rashed Al-Zayed, economist of World Bank's Human Development Global Practice; Nadia Rashid, delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh; Shahiduzzaman, executive director of ESDO; and Fahmida Khatun, executive director of CPD, also spoke at the session, moderated by CPD's distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya.
