The government of Bangladesh, in collaboration with UNICEF and development partners under the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), convened a high-level validation workshop on the Bangladesh Education Sector Analysis (ESA) 2026 on Sunday at Hotel Sheraton, Dhaka.
The event gathered over 100 participants, including senior government officials, education experts, academics, researchers, civil society representatives and members of the media, to strengthen evidence-based education reform across the country.
The ESA 2026 is a comprehensive review of Bangladesh’s education sector, spanning all levels from pre-primary to higher education, and addressing cross-cutting areas such as teacher development, governance, financing, inclusion and technology integration. The workshop provided stakeholders with a platform to examine key findings, offer feedback and build consensus on reform priorities.
The analysis reveals a clear picture of the sector. While Bangladesh has recorded steady gains in access and gender parity, high dropout rates persist across all levels of education. Most critically, half of all children lack foundational literacy, and one in three lack foundational numeracy skills. Equity concerns remain acute, particularly for children from low-income households, remote areas and marginalised groups, including those with disabilities. Education financing also falls below international benchmarks, placing a disproportionate financial burden on households.
