Poverty main reason for dropout : Study

Around 80.3 per cent families cannot afford educational expenses after the primary level, resulting in a high rate of dropout due to poverty, a study report said on Tuesday.
The dropout rate due to poverty is high because after the primary level, families cannot afford the cost of books, guide books, etc, the report said.
The study was conducted at Gowanghat in Sylhet district and Jamalganj in Sunamganj district from April 2015 to June 2015, by BRAC.
In the study area, the dropout rate was 21.5 per cent and the non-enrolment rate 3.7 per cent. At the national level, the dropout rate is 20.9 per cent and the non-enrolment rate 2.3 per cent.
Among the major causes of dropout and non-enrolment, the study found that 80.3 per cent families cannot afford education, 21.9 per cent abandon studies due to lack of concern, 17.6 per cent prefer earning by working, 12.9 per cent are not interested in school, 12.1 per cent do not want to study, 10.9 per cent students help their parents to earn and 8.6 per cent are involved in household work.
The findings were revealed at a policy dialogue on "Access to Primary Education: Obstacles in the Hard-to-Reach Areas" organised by BRAC at the BRAC Inn Centre in the city, with Dr Safiqul Islam, director, BRAC Education Programme, in the chair.
Professor Dr ASM Amanullah, department of sociology, Dhaka University, presented the research findings.
Among others, primary and mass education minister, Mostafizur Rahman, as chief guest and additional director general of the Directorate of Primary Education, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, as special guest, were present on the occasion. The findings said the highest percentage of children in the study area dropped out from Class II (20.3 per cent) and Class V (19.5 per cent).
It said that the rate of dropout (61 per cent) and non-enrolment (70.5 per cent) was the highest in those households where the head of the households was not educated.
The study recommends that financial incentives, free books, increased transport facilities and other support services should be provided to all poor and disabled students, especially during the harvesting season, to minimise the dropout. There should not be any provision of tuition fees for students of remote areas.
Primary and mass education minister, Mostafizur Rahman, said the quality of primary education could be enhanced if teachers are dedicated to their work.
“There are many dedicated teachers at the primary level who deserve honour and respect. But there are also those who are not dedicated. It is true that salary of teachers is not high. But they should provide the service for whatever salary they get,” he said.
The minister pointed out the resource constraint in education and urged all, including non-government organisations and the affluent class of society, to invest in primary education.
He also said that no children would be out of the stipend net from next year. Poor people, including farmers, labourers, and fishermen, are slowly realising the importance of sending their children to schools, he added.

Poverty main reason for dropout : Study

Around 80.3 per cent families cannot afford educational expenses after the primary level, resulting in a high rate of dropout due to poverty, a study report said on Tuesday. The dropout rate due to poverty is high because after the primary level, families cannot afford the cost of books, guide books, etc, the report said. The study was conducted at Gowanghat in Sylhet district and Jamalganj in Sunamganj district from April 2015 to June 2015, by BRAC. In the study area, the dropout rate was 21.5 per cent and the non-enrolment rate 3.7 per cent. At the national level, the dropout rate is 20.9 per cent and the non-enrolment rate 2.3 per cent. Among the major causes of dropout and non-enrolment, the study found that 80.3 per cent families cannot afford education, 21.9 per cent abandon studies due to lack of concern, 17.6 per cent prefer earning by working, 12.9 per cent are not interested in school, 12.1 per cent do not want to study, 10.9 per cent students help their parents to earn and 8.6 per cent are involved in household work. The findings were revealed at a policy dialogue on Access to Primary Education: Obstacles in the Hard-to-Reach Areas organised by BRAC at the BRAC Inn Centre in the city, with Dr Safiqul Islam, director, BRAC Education Programme, in the chair. Professor Dr ASM Amanullah, department of sociology, Dhaka University, presented the research findings. Among others, primary and mass education minister, Mostafizur Rahman, as chief guest and additional director general of the Directorate of Primary Education, Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, as special guest, were present on the occasion. The findings said the highest percentage of children in the study area dropped out from Class II (20.3 per cent) and Class V (19.5 per cent). It said that the rate of dropout (61 per cent) and non-enrolment (70.5 per cent) was the highest in those households where the head of the households was not educated. The study recommends that financial incentives, free books, increased transport facilities and other support services should be provided to all poor and disabled students, especially during the harvesting season, to minimise the dropout. There should not be any provision of tuition fees for students of remote areas. Primary and mass education minister, Mostafizur Rahman, said the quality of primary education could be enhanced if teachers are dedicated to their work. There are many dedicated teachers at the primary level who deserve honour and respect. But there are also those who are not dedicated. It is true that salary of teachers is not high. But they should provide the service for whatever salary they get, he said. The minister pointed out the resource constraint in education and urged all, including non-government organisations and the affluent class of society, to invest in primary education. He also said that no children would be out of the stipend net from next year. Poor people, including farmers, labourers, and fishermen, are slowly realising the importance of sending their children to schools, he added.