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COVID-19 Learning, Evidence and Research (CLEAR) for Bangladesh: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Education of Primary and Secondary School Children in Bangladesh

The educational crisis caused by the onset of COVID-19 has impacted approximately thirty million primary and secondary school students in Bangladesh. This scoping paper outlines the effects of COVID-19 induced school closures on the state of learning of primary and secondary school children in the country. This paper aims to synthesize existing evidence, identify knowledge gaps, and scope out research gaps in this context. Existing literature was reviewed, stakeholders were consulted, and evidence and insights were consolidated and presented. The findings indicate that marginalized students, particularly those from rural areas, informal urban settlements, remote regions, females, students from low-income households, and students with disabilities, were disproportionately affected by school closures. Remote education initiatives implemented by government/non- government entities to maintain learning continuity did not reach these children, leaving them with a more severe gap in their learning than their peers. As schools resume in full swing, hybrid learning measures that combine blended online and in-person classes may prevent these students from effectively recuperating from learning gaps incurred during school closures. Additionally, household financial crisis, low student motivation and institutional constraints were encountered as a result of COVID-19, all of which may impede learning recovery. Prior to developing effective solutions for recouping lost learning, it is necessary to establish nationally representative databases tracking student learning levels and dropout rates. Further investigation is necessary on the use of low-tech remedial education approaches to ensure student inclusion.

Authors: Hossain, Marjan; Rahman, Khandker Wahedur
Type: Scoping paper
Year: 2022

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