A recent government survey in Bangladesh has revealed that while 84 percent of children complete primary school, less than half proceed to finish secondary education. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey-2025, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with UNICEF, found that children from low-income families, particularly girls, are more likely to drop out before completing secondary school. Boys, on the other hand, tend to lag behind girls in completion rates at the lower secondary stage.
The survey, conducted over a year in approximately 63,000 households, categorizes secondary education into lower and upper levels. Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics shows that there are over 81 lakh students enrolled in 18,968 general secondary schools nationwide.
Experts attribute the high dropout rates to socio-economic factors and educational system weaknesses. Early marriage for girls and the preference for boys to contribute to household income instead of pursuing education are significant factors leading to dropout rates. Additionally, the lack of engaging teaching methods in post-primary schools and concerns about the quality of education provided contribute to students leaving school prematurely.
The survey indicates a consistent decline in school completion rates as students progress from primary to upper secondary levels across all regions. While the completion rate at the primary level is 83.7 percent, it drops to 69.3 percent at the lower secondary level and further decreases to 43.9 percent at the upper secondary level.
Disparities between urban and rural areas are evident, with higher completion rates observed in urban regions compared to rural areas. The study emphasizes the need for policy changes to address the issue and suggests that investing in quality education and engaging teaching methods can help retain students in school.
Efforts to improve the standard of education, increase public spending on education, and enhance the quality of teaching are recommended by experts to address the challenges faced in retaining students in secondary education in Bangladesh.