Enrolment doubles in a decade: Inside the growing appeal of English-medium education
English-medium education is rapidly growing among urban middle-class families in Bangladesh, contributing to a class divide in the education landscape
Bangladesh has more than 81 lakh students studying in nearly 19,000 secondary schools, the vast majority in Bangla-medium institutions, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS). But a minuscule fragment of the education system, English medium schools, is expanding remarkably fast.
Over the past decade, the number of students enrolled in English-medium schools has doubled, rising from around 14,500 in 2016 to roughly 30,000 today, according to the British Council.
The growth is striking not only because English-medium schools remain relatively few — roughly 168 nationwide, with 127 concentrated in Dhaka — but also because they rank among the most expensive schooling options in Bangladesh.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Yet parents are willing to bear the cost.
Farhana Ahmed, 45, an employee at a private firm in Dhaka and mother of a seventh grader at Scholastica School, says the decision to enroll her daughter in an English-medium institution has come at a steep cost. Nearly 40% of her income now goes toward tuition alone.
"It's expensive, but for us it's an investment," she said. "The facilities are better, the curriculum is aligned with international standards, and the teachers interact much more closely with students."
Her reasoning reflects a broader shift among Bangladeshi families that is driven by aspiration, anxiety and changing perceptions about education itself.
A small but growing system
Despite the rapid growth in enrolment, English-medium education remains a tiny segment of Bangladesh's vast education system.
According to the latest BANBEIS report, the country has more than 21,086 registered secondary level schools, yet only 148 of them operate as English-medium institutions. The British Council places the number slightly higher at 168 schools, with 127 located in Dhaka, highlighting the sector's heavy concentration in the capital.
By contrast, Bangladesh's mainstream education system is enormous.
BANBEIS data show that over 1 crore 27 lakh students study in Bangla-medium and English-version schools and colleges, although no precise breakdown is available for students enrolled specifically in the English-version stream.
Madrasas also play a major role in the system. At the post-primary level alone, 9,260 madrasas serve more than 26 lakh students.
Against these numbers, the roughly 30,000 students in English-medium schools appear marginal. Yet the steady rise in enrolment suggests the sector carries influence beyond its size.
The parent psychology
Dr Mohammod Moninoor Roshid, professor in the Institute of Education and Research (IER) at Dhaka University says the shift reflects a mix of social, economic and educational factors.
"There has historically been a tendency in Bangladesh to view English-medium education as superior," he said.
For decades, English-medium schools were associated mainly with elite families. Today, however, the trend is spreading among the urban middle class.
One reason is the perception that English-medium education offers stronger preparation for global opportunities, including studying abroad and competing in international job markets.
Another factor is dissatisfaction among some parents with aspects of the national education system. Curriculum reforms introduced in recent years sparked debates over teaching methods and classroom effectiveness. At the same time, incidents such as exam question leaks have eroded confidence in public examinations.
According to Roshid, these developments may have encouraged some families to look for alternatives. "When there is a lack of confidence in the mainstream system, parents naturally search for other options," he said.
Students who have experienced both systems say the differences often lie in teaching methods.
Sadab Rahman Chowdhury, a postgraduate from the University of Dhaka who studied in an English-medium school throughout his life, says the emphasis is placed more on conceptual understanding.
"In English-medium education, you cannot rely on memorisation," he said. "The exam questions rarely repeat. If you do not understand the concept, you simply cannot answer."
According to him, subjects such as physics, chemistry and biology require students to engage deeply with ideas rather than reproduce textbook passages.
The approach, he says, encourages critical thinking and analytical skills.
Whether the differences are as stark as some believe remains debated among educators. But perceptions about teaching quality continue to influence parental choices.
The price of education
The financial cost of English-medium schooling remains one of its biggest barriers.
Monthly tuition fees can range from Tk15000 to Tk70,000 or more, depending on the institution. Additional expenses including admission fees, books, extracurricular activities and examination registration can significantly raise the total cost. A top-tier English medium school might cost, in total, a staggering amount of Tk10 lakh per year.
For many middle-class families, sending a child to an English-medium school means making substantial financial sacrifices.
Yet the demand continues to grow.
Parents often view the expense as an investment in future opportunities, particularly in a globalised economy where English proficiency is widely valued.
A divided education landscape
Interestingly, the rise of English-medium education appears to coincide with another trend: increasing enrolment in madrasas. The number of madrasa students has increased in recent years.
"Families with greater financial resources may choose English-medium institutions, while lower-income households often turn to madrasas due to lower costs. This dynamic could gradually produce separate educational tracks aligned with social class. The solution is not to discourage it but to strengthen standards across all educational systems."
Bangladesh has two main types of madrasas: Alia and Qawmi. BANBEIS only maintains records for Alia madrasas. According to its 2022 report, from Ibtedai (primary level) to Kamil (postgraduate equivalent), there are 4,020,690 students enrolled, marking the highest number in the last 20 years.
In 2019, there were 24 lakh students in madrasas. In 2023, the number increased to 27.5 lakh.
According to Roshid, the two developments may reflect broader socioeconomic realities.
Families with greater financial resources may choose English-medium institutions, while lower-income households often turn to madrasas due to lower costs.
This dynamic, he warns, could gradually produce separate educational tracks aligned with social class.
"The doubling of enrolment in English-medium schools is certainly significant," he said. "But it may also indicate deeper divisions within the education system."
The stakes for Bangladesh
The implications extend beyond schooling. The question of quality and accessibility of school education becomes crucial.
For Roshid, the solution is not to discourage English-medium education but to strengthen standards across all systems — Bangla-medium, English-version, English-medium and madrasa education alike.
Without such reforms, the risk is that education itself could reinforce social divides.
For parents like Farhana Ahmed, however, the decision remains deeply personal.
Each month, she reviews her family's finances and prepares for the next round of school payments. The numbers are daunting. But for her, the calculation is simple. If education can open doors for her daughter, the cost — however high — is worth it.
