Primary school dropout rate stands at 16.25%: Education minister
The government is expanding incentives ranging from stipends and school feeding to free uniforms and home visits in an effort to keep more children in primary education.
Highlights:
- Primary dropout rate stands at 16.25%
- Free uniforms, shoes to be introduced gradually
- School feeding, stipends continue nationwide
- Home visits aim to keep children enrolled
The primary school dropout rate in Bangladesh currently stands at 16.25%, Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon told parliament today (14 July), adding that the government has undertaken a series of initiatives to reduce the rate and improve student retention.
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The minister disclosed the information in response to a question from Jamalpur-3 lawmaker Md Mostafizur Rahman Babul during the question-and-answer session in parliament.
He said the government is distributing free four-colour textbooks to all primary school students on the first day of the academic year to encourage attendance and improve learning.
In addition, stipend programmes and school feeding initiatives are being implemented across primary schools, he said.
The minister also said the government has taken steps to gradually provide every primary school student with two sets of school uniforms, one pair of shoes and socks.
To make schools more attractive to children, sports equipment is being supplied to educational institutions, while students are being encouraged to participate in the National Primary School Gold Cup Football Tournament for boys and girls, as well as debate competitions and Olympiads.
Milon said schools are also conducting regular home visits, mothers' gatherings, guardian meetings and School Management Committee (SMC) meetings to monitor students' attendance and learning progress and discourage dropouts.
He added that the government is implementing the "One Child, One Tree" programme, encouraging students to rear pets and promoting inclusive education to ensure enrolment of all children, including girls, children with disabilities, those from ethnic minority communities and other disadvantaged groups, regardless of religion, caste or ethnicity.
