Concerns over decline of 3.7m students in public schools

Bangladesh’s public primary and secondary schools are witnessing a substantial decline in student enrolment, while madrasahs and kindergartens are attracting more students. The changing pattern raises questions about the capacity of public education, the financial pressures facing families and the government’s ability to keep children in education.

Figures cited from education-sector sources suggest that public primary and secondary enrolment has fallen by more than 3.7 million over different reporting periods. However, the figures do not establish how many children have dropped out entirely or transferred to other institutions.

In contrast, madrasah enrolment rises by about 404,684 students while kindergarten enrolment reaches approximately 5.8 million

In contrast, madrasah enrolment reportedly increased by about 404,684 students during the period under review, while kindergarten enrolment reached approximately 5.8 million. The figures point to changing enrolment patterns, but differences in reporting periods and institutional coverage mean they cannot be directly combined to determine the number of children who have left education. Comparable data on admissions, transfers and dropouts are needed to establish where students are going.

Professor Dr Kaberi Gayen of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the University of Dhaka described the situation as a failure of the state.

“This is a failure of the state. Many children are being deprived of mainstream education. We need to identify the underlying reasons,” she said.

She added that families sending their children to kindergartens or English-medium schools with the aim of pursuing higher education abroad could be viewed positively. However, she noted that many low-income families choose madrasahs because of their religious values and practices.

“Financial constraints prevent many of these families from sending their children to expensive English-medium institutions. As a result, disparities are emerging in access to education and educational opportunities among different social groups,” she said.

Economic pressures and childcare arrangements may also influence families’ decisions. In industrial areas such as Gazipur, many parents, including garment workers, spend long hours away from home. When classes at public primary schools end around midday, working parents may struggle to arrange supervision for their children.

Some residential madrasahs offer education, accommodation and meals, sometimes at little or no direct cost through donations and other support. Representatives of the Qawmi madrasah sector say certain institutions serve disadvantaged families by providing a supervised environment for children while their parents work. However, facilities and costs vary, and not all madrasahs offer free residential services.