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

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$180,390,563

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: Koffi Segniagbeto

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

Changing mindsets: Education for Rohingya girls in Bangladesh

  • Adolescent girls in the Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar face high barriers to education, including cultural beliefs and practices, a shortage of learning spaces and safety concerns.
  • GPE is supporting Bangladesh with UNICEF as the grant agent through an accelerated grant to ensure that girls have safe and supportive learning spaces, teachers are adequately trained and the Rohingya community recognizes the importance of girls’ education beyond primary level.
  • Through the work with female community volunteers and by providing girls-only classes in some of the 600 GPE-supported learning centers in the camp, more adolescent girls can continue their education.

Key data

13%

out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age

20%

of children start learning one year before entering primary school

74%

of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications

16%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of October 11, 2024)

 
  • Type: Program development

    Years: 2024

    Allocation: US$200,000

    Utilization: 0

    Grant agent: ADB

  • Type: Accelerated funding

    Years: 2023 - 2025

    Allocation: US$10,780,000

    Utilization: US$4,790,147

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2023 - 2025

    Allocation: US$484,848

    Utilization: US$189,383

    Grant agent: UNICEF

  • Type: Program implementation

    Years: 2022 - 2024

    Allocation: US$53,900,000

    Utilization: US$36,487,338

    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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