This study of ten high schools in rural Bangladesh, assisted by a US-based NGO, Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB), presents detailed data on the dropout rate in each class from VI to X over a period of six years. The study follows students at Class VI through Class X for two academic cycles ending in 2007 & 2008 to estimate dropout rate over the cycle. Importantly, the study also tries to identify the reasons for dropout through a survey of direct sources- students, teachers, parents and community leaders and provides an integrated analysis from these perspectives. Research reveals a trend of dropout starting at a slower pace of about 9-10 percent at Class VI, rising slowly to Class IX and ending with a ‘bang’ of around 60 to 70 percent at Class X. easy promotion from Class VI onwards and the ultimate realization of the students that they are unable to cope with the demands of taking the test exam at Class X or the nationwide SSC exam and in many cases the inability to afford the exam fees may explain the reasons for this sudden rise in dropout at class X. The study confirms the prevailing views about the main reasons for dropout as being poverty and poverty related factors. There is unanimity in this regard among all the direct sources surveyed. There is also unanimity about higher dropout among girl students in rural Bangladesh, confirming prevailing views about early marriage of girls, household role of girls in life and lack of recognition for the need for their education. The study reveals potential for reducing dropouts with coordinated efforts while dealing with the causes. In this regard intervention such as VAB’s Scholarship and other programmes operating in Bangladesh since year 2000 with the aim of improving attendance at school of rural poor students. It is believed to have contributed to the reduction of dropouts by at least ten percent in two academic cycles. It is encouraging to note that the longer the school benefits from VAB scholarship and other complementary programmes, the larger is the reduction in dropout rate, in some schools by as much as thirty percent.
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