Students with their teacher during a lesson. Credit: World Bank

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$180,190,563

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Education sector plan

Objective: Contribute to better planning, coordination and implementation of the education programs in alignment with national aspirations

Other key documents

Coordinating agency: British High Commission in Bangladesh

GPE Team lead: Daisuke Kanazawa

Transforming education in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s education system caters to about 40 million students. Learning is offered through both formal and non-formal channels.

The 2020 Education sector analysis reports that the country has achieved near-universal primary education enrollment with gender parity. The net enrollment rate was 98% in 2018.

Since the influx of refugees from Myanmar, the government has led the humanitarian response in Cox’s Bazar. The district historically had some of the lowest primary education indicators in the country. Initially, school attendance rates fell, especially for girls, and dropout rates increased across the district.

By 2018, enrollment had significantly improved in the district, to a net enrollment rate of 94.6% compared to the national average 98%. However, only 60% of children and youth aged 12 to 24 reported having completed primary school in Teknaf and 75% in Ukhiya.

Due to government restrictions and policy directives, Rohingya children are only allowed informal education, and it must adhere to the Guideline for Informal Education Program.

Of all Rohingya refugees, 51% are children under the age of 18. Despite significant progress over the last two years, more than 30% of Rohingya children and youth aged 3 to 24 still require access to education. 83% of adolescents aged 15 to 18 lack access to educational or skills development activities.

Result story

Against the odds: How Bangladesh strengthened its education system during COVID-19

  • GPE funding has supported the government of Bangladesh to respond to the urgent need for distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Almost 3,000 teachers were trained on remedial education, distance learning strategies, and formative and summative assessment practices.
  • Thanks to the GPE-funded program, almost 20,000 primary schools in the most disadvantaged areas were equipped with the knowledge and resources to safely reopen.

Grants

(data as of March 19, 2024)

 
  • Type: Accelerated funding

    Years: 2023 - 2025

    Allocation: US$10,780,000

    Utilization: US$2,368,986

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2023 - 2024

    Allocation: US$484,848

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2022 - 2024

    Allocation: US$53,900,000

    Utilization: US$36,334,855

    Grant agent: WB

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting:

  • The Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) for the 2020-2023 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).
  • The Institute of Informatics and Development to support national transparency and accountability work in the 2022-2024 period.
  • The South Asian Assessment Alliance led by Street Child to mobilize an advocacy alliance across multiple partner countries, including Bangladesh, for the 2021-2023 period.

Learn more

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