In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bangladesh has witnessed a concerning decline in secondary school enrollment, with over 1 million students dropping out over a span of four years, according to a survey conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics (BANBEIS).

Presented at a workshop on Thursday, the survey highlighted a significant reduction in the total number of secondary school students in Bangladesh, decreasing from 9,230,427 in 2019 to 8,166,188 in 2023. Of particular concern is the fact that 55% of the dropout students are girls, distributed across 18,968 schools nationwide.

Officials from BANBEIS attribute this decline primarily to the impact of the pandemic. Sheikh Md Alamgir, Chief of BANBEIS's Survey Branch, noted that children aged 11 to 15, typically attending secondary school, have shown a decrease in numbers, as indicated by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

While the survey collected statistical data, it did not delve into the specific reasons behind the dropout phenomenon. Soleman Khan, Secretary of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, emphasized the need to address this issue, acknowledging the disruption caused by pandemic-related closures and highlighting ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of students to classrooms.

Interestingly, amidst the decline in secondary school enrollment, there has been an increase in college, madrasa, technical, and English medium school enrollments. Additionally, the survey revealed a decreasing trend in the dropout rate over the past few years, dropping from 55.26% in 2010 to 32.85% in 2023.

The survey, conducted from September 3 to 23, 2023, collected data from all post-primary educational institutions across the country, providing valuable insights into the evolving educational landscape in Bangladesh.