Factors Associated with Schooling of Children - an Exploratory Study in Selected Hard to Reach Regions of Bangladesh

Factors Associated with Schooling of Children: An Exploratory Study in Selected Hard to Reach Regions of Bangladesh

Hoque, Khan Md. Mainul, Bhuiyan, Dr. Mohiuddin Md. Shahjahan & Mannan, Md. Abdul

Abstract

Bangladesh is a country having a huge hard to reach regions. In this study the researchers investigate the major factors associated with schooling. The researchers investigate the major causes using a longitudinal household survey. There are two major factors having a great influence on schooling. Pull factors attract the children to enroll in school. On the other hand push factors play a negative role in schooling. Parents income is one of the major factors associated with schooling. Poverty, illiteracy of the guardians, geographical hindrances, and absence of appointing local teacher creates a negative impact on schooling.  The policy implications of our results point to the need under the purview of Monthly Payment Order (MPO) of the remote school minimizing government terms and condition. It needs to take a special initiative from the government for enhancing income generating program for every family and refocus government education allocation for hard to reach regions ensuring cloths and all learning materials for every child.

Keywords: factors, schooling, hard to reach, region

Introduction

Bangladesh is a low level income country in the South Asia having 150.5 million population in 1,47,570 sq. km. and rural population is 72% (2011) (World Bank Report-2013 www.worldbank.org/country/bangladesh-17April 2013).The geographical feature of this country is not the same. A large portion of our country is hard to reach.There are 123 enclaves (chitmohols) located in Rangpur division, 400 haors and beels (wetland) are in Netrokona, Kishorgonj, Sunamgonj, Hobigonj, Moulovibazar, Natore and huge char(temporary land masses) areas across the country. There is no update and accurate data of how many secondary school age going (11-15 years) children are in hard to reach areas in the purview of school in Bangladesh.

Enrollment mainly depends on economic, social and geographical factors.Numerous factors are associated with schooling of children.Secondary education is the key to a stronger workforce and can ensure a better quality of life for our citizen. It has been well established that education is the key to economic development and social welfare. Investments in education yield returns in poverty reduction, improved health outcomes, and economic growth (UNESCO, 2007; Hannum& Buchmann,2004; Herz&Sperling, 2003). In addition, increased access to education contributes to increase political participation and more equitable sharing of economic and political power (Birdsall, 1999). Education for girls is particularly critical, as improvements in the infant mortality rate, child nutrition, and school enrollment are closely associated with maternal education (Birdsall, Levine, & Ibrahim, 2005; Herz&Sperling, 2003; World Bank, 2008). In a world of global market competition, the secondary level has become part of basic education that should be universally available.