JBS Vol 10. Num 1. 2008 - Education Sector in Bangladesh: A Review of Developments Since Independence (Primary and Secondary Education)

Since independence, particularly after transition to democratic rule in 1991, significant progress has been made in human resource development in Bangladesh. Increased enrollment, particularly of girls at the primary and secondary levels, contributed to promoting gender balance besides increasing overall access to education. Failure to improve quality and content of education and low levels of internal and external efficiency of the education system, however, continue to remain as major concerns. A disturbing development in Bangladesh has been limited access of the poor to quality education. Education, instead of serving as a ‘great equalizer,’ has contributed to exacerbating existing inequalities and passing them on to future generations. Besides, expansion of the religious stream of education that caters primarily to the educational needs of the poor, with content that has little relevance to labor market needs, has possibly contributed to the growing unemployment and discontent amongst the educated youth and the emergence of fundamentalist forces in recent times. All of the above developments call for immediate reforms.