According to the recent census data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics, girl education in Bangladesh is at an all-time low as of 2017, with almost 42% dropout rates at the secondary school level. Moreover, child marriages and high levels of pregnancies in the country have resulted in an overall lower rate of girl education in Bangladesh. It is thus extremely important that girl education in Bangladesh should be emphasized. In light of these data, it has been observed that opportunities in higher education in neighbouring foreign countries like India have been a significant boon to boost girl education in Bangladesh.

Girl education as a means for betterment of economy and society of Bangladesh

The importance of girl education in Bangladesh cannot be stressed enough since the nation is in dire need of women in the professional field. The professional sectors are mostly crowded by men and this is another indicator of the gender disparity that is characteristic of low levels of girl education in Bangladesh. As a rapidly developing country that has a GDP that is currently competing with that of its neighbouring countries, ensuring proper girl education in Bangladesh can contribute to significant growth in per capita income of the country. With many households having only male earning members, the addition of a female earning member can greatly increase the overall income of the household. Hence girl education in Bangladesh is important to enhance the income of the common man’s household. Moreover, societal outlook towards women empowerment and equal rights for women also stems out of the increasing levels of girl education in Bangladesh.

Opportunities for Bangladeshi girls to pursue education abroad

Several colleges and universities in neighbouring foreign countries like India, for example Sharda University, have specialised courses for girls seeking to pursue higher education in diverse fields. Girl education in Bangladesh can be enhanced when girls avail these opportunities. Securing a degree from such a foreign university can enable Bangladeshi girls and women to repatriate home and begin working in their respective fields. It has been observed that some of these women pursue social work that helps in the advancement of girl education in Bangladesh. Therefore, these opportunities in universities of countries like India produce skilled and able women that can prove to be a pillar of strength for girl education in Bangladesh.

What is its impact on Bangladeshi society?

The obsolete customs and beliefs that have shaped the role of girls and women in Bangladesh and restricted them to household chores can be broken free from with the enhancement of girl education in Bangladesh. Furthermore, along with the awareness campaigns of NGOs in Bangladesh, an increase in girl education in Bangladesh can be a stepping stone to the success of female health and safety of the population of Bangladesh as well. This kind of societal change is very much needed in a country that is still largely patriarchal, and only an increase in girl education in Bangladesh can change it.

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