The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education in Bangladesh and its mitigation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59292/bulletinbiomath.2024003Keywords:
COVID-19, education, learning loss, interpolation, data analysisAbstract
The global COVID-19 pandemic disrupted various facets of societal functioning, with the education sector facing unprecedented challenges. The sudden closure of schools and universities, coupled with the shift towards remote learning, created a dynamic educational environment. It significantly affected academic performance, psychological health, dropout rates, school closures, and even increased early marriage rates in Bangladesh. In 2021, the dropout rate stood at 14.15 percent. This study delves into the specific repercussions of the pandemic on the education landscape in Bangladesh. The research reveals the disparities in access to online education, shedding light on the socio-economic factors influencing digital learning engagement. Through a comprehensive analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, we explore the multifaceted effects on educational institutions, students, and educators. We present the impact of COVID-19 on education graphically using interpolation polynomials. Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in Bangladesh necessitates a multifaceted approach that addresses various interconnected challenges. Moreover, prioritizing mental health support for students, teachers, and parents is paramount in navigating the emotional toll of the pandemic. Collaboration and partnerships with international organizations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private sector entities are indispensable for mobilizing resources and expertise. Bangladesh can effectively manage the pandemic's complications and ensure the continued viability of its educational system by implementing such an all-encompassing approach.
References
Baloch, S., Baloch, M.A., Zheng, T. and Pei, X. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine, 250(4), 271-278, (2020).
Liu, Y.C., Kuo, R.L. and Shih, S.R. COVID-19: the first documented coronavirus pandemic in history. Biomedical Journal, 43(4), 328-333, (2020).
Kamrujjaman, M., Mahmud, M.S. and Islam, M.S. Coronavirus outbreak and the mathematical growth map of COVID-19. Annual Research & Review in Biology, 35(1), 72–78, (2020).
Islam, T., Talukder, A.K., Siddiqui, N. and Islam, T. Tackling the COVID-19 pandemic: the Bangladesh perspective. Journal of Public Health Research, 9(4), (2020).
Bodrud-Doza, M., Shammi, M., Bahlman, L., Islam, A.R.M.T. and Rahman, M.M. Psychosocial and socio-economic crisis in Bangladesh due to COVID-19 pandemic: a perception-based assessment. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 341, (2020).
Anwar, S., Nasrullah, M. and Hosen, M.J. COVID-19 and Bangladesh: challenges and how to address them. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 154, (2020).
Islam, M.S., Ira, J.I., Kabir, K.A. and Kamrujjaman, M. Effect of lockdown and isolation to suppress the COVID-19 in Bangladesh: an epidemic compartments model. Journal of Applied Mathematics and Computation, 4(3), 83-93, (2020).
Jesus, T.S., Bhattacharjya, S., Papadimitriou, C., Bogdanova, Y., Bentley, J., Arango-Lasprilla, J.C. et al. Lockdown-related disparities experienced by people with disabilities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: scoping review with thematic analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6178, (2021).
Kruizinga, M.D., Peeters, D., van Veen, M., van Houten, M., Wieringa, J., Noordzij, J.G. et al. The impact of lockdown on pediatric ED visits and hospital admissions during the COVID19 pandemic: a multicenter analysis and review of the literature. European Journal of Pediatrics, 180, 2271-2279, (2021).
Mahmud, M.S., Kamrujjaman, M., Jubyrea, J., Islam, M.S. and Islam, M.S. Quarantine vs social consciousness: a prediction to control COVID-19 infection. Journal of Applied Life Sciences International, 23(3), 20-27, (2020).
Semlali, M., Hattaf, K., Sadik, M. and El Gourari, A. Stability analysis of a delayed COVID-19 transmission model involving immigration and vaccination. Communications in Mathematical Biology and Neuroscience, 2023, (2023).
Hattaf, K., El Karimi, M.I., Mohsen, A.A., Hajhouji, Z., El Younoussi, M. and Yousfi, N. Mathematical modeling and analysis of the dynamics of RNA viruses in presence of immunity and treatment: a case study of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccines, 11(2), 201, (2023).
Rahman, T. and Sharma, U. A simulation of COVID-19 school closure impact on student learning in Bangladesh. The World Bank, 1-10, (2021).
Huque, S.M.R., Aziza, T., Farzana, T. and Islam, M.N. Strategies to mitigate the COVID-19 challenges of universities in Bangladesh. In Handbook of Research on Strategies and Interventions to Mitigate COVID-19 Impact on SMEs (pp. 563-587). USA: IGI Global, (2021).
Hosen, M., Uddin, M.N., Hossain, S., Islam, M.A. and Ahmad, A. The impact of COVID-19 on tertiary educational institutions and students in Bangladesh. Heliyon, 8(1), (2022).
Ahmed, S., Taqi, H.M.M., Farabi, Y.I., Sarker, M., Ali, S.M. and Sankaranarayanan, B. Evaluation of flexible strategies to manage the COVID-19 pandemic in the education sector. Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, 22, 81-105, (2021).
Dutta, S. and Smita, M.K. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on tertiary education in Bangladesh: students’ perspectives. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8(09), 53, (2020).
Beqqali, N., Hattaf, K. and Achtaich, N. Mathematical biology in high school mathematics education. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 13(6), 326-337, (2023).
Rahman, M.M., Rahaman, S.M., Salamzadeh, A. and Jantan, A.H. Positive consequences of COVID-19 pandemic: reflections based on university students community in Bangladesh. International Review, (3-4), 83-92, (2021).
Chowdhury, R. and Sarkar, M. Education in Bangladesh: changing contexts and emerging realities. In Engaging in Educational Research: Revisiting Policy and Practice in Bangladesh, Education in the Asia-Pacific Region: Issues, Concerns and Prospects (Vol. 44) (pp. 1-18). Singapore: Springer, (2018).
Khan, N.N., Begum, S.A., Afeef, R. and Kamrujjaman, M. Vaccine efficacy of COVID-19 in Bangladesh: does vaccination prevent the pandemic?. Ganit: Journal of Bangladesh Mathematical Society, 43(1), 45-62, (2023).
Kamrujjaman, M., Mahmud, M.S., Ahmed, S., Qayum, M.O., Alam, M.M., Hassan, M.N. et al. SARS-CoV-2 and Rohingya refugee camp, Bangladesh: uncertainty and how the government took over the situation. Biology, 10(2), 124, (2021).
Cohen, S., Chakravarthy, S., Bharathi, S., Narayanan Gopalakrishnan, B. and Park, C.Y. Potential economic impact of COVID-19-related school closures. Asian Development Bank Economics Working Paper Series, 657, (2022).
Ministry of Education in Bangladesh, (2024). https://www.moedu.gov.bd.
Literacy Rate in Bangladesh-Rising bd.com, Risingbd.com (2022). https://www.risingbd.com/english/national/news/88254.
The Daily Star, Budget 2017-2018: education gets a boost, (2017). https://www.thedailystar.net/country/bangladesh-national-budget-2017-18-education-gets-boost-1414009.
Prodhan, M. The educational system in Bangladesh and scope for improvement. Journal of International Social Issues, 4(1), 11-23, (2016).
Peterson, P., Baker, E. and McGaw, B. International Encyclopedia of Education (Third Edition). Elsevier Science: USA, (2010).
ADRA Internation, Primary education in Bangladesh, (2019). https://www.adrabangladesh.org/single-post/2019/12/31/primary-education-in-bangladesh.
Gustavsson, S. Primary Education in Bangladesh: for whom?. University Press: Dhaka, Bangladesh, (1990).
Mousumi, M.A. and Kusakabe, T. School education system in Bangladesh. In Handbook of Education Systems in South Asia, Global Education Systems (pp. 443-477). Singapore: Springer, (2021).
Education in Bangladesh, (2024). https://www.dsce.edu.bd/.
National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh, Banglapedia, Secondary education, (2021). https://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Secondary_Education.
Alam, M.M. Comparative acceptability of GTM and CLT to the teachers of rural secondary high schools in Bangladesh. Global Journal of Human-Social Science Research, 15(4), 1-8, (2015).
The Business Standard, 2,716 new educational institutes brought under MPO, (2022). https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/education/2616-new-educational-institutes-brought-under-mpo-453878.
Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information & Statistics (BANBEIS), Bangladesh education statistics, (2022). https://banbeis.portal.gov.bd/sites/default/files/files/banbeis.portal.gov.bd/npfblock//Bangladesh.
UNICEF, Learning loss must be recovered to avoid long-term damage to children’s well-being, new report says, (2022). https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/en/press-releases/learning-loss-must-be-recovered-avoid-long-term-damage-childrens-well-being-new.
UNICEF, COVID-19: schools for more than 168 million children globally have been completely closed for almost a full year, says UNICEF, (2021). https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/schools-more-168-million-children-globally-have-been-completely-closed#:~:text=NEW.
World Bank Blogs, COVID-19 school closures fueled big learning losses, especially for the disadvantaged, (2022). https://blogs.worldbank.org/developmenttalk/covid-19-school-closures-fueled-big-learning-losses-especially-disadvantaged.
XINHUANET, Bangladesh cancels major public examination amid COVID-19 fears, (2020). http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-10/07/c_139424338.htm.
The World Bank, Learning losses from COVID-19 could cost this generation of students close to $17 trillion in lifetime earnings, (2021). https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2021/12/06/learning-losses-from-covid-19-could-cost-this-generation-of-students-close-to-17-trillion-in-lifetime-earnings.
UNICEF, The future of 37 million children in Bangladesh is at risk with their education severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, (2021). https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/en/press-releases/future-37-million-children-bangladesh-risk-their-education-severely-affected-covid.
National Alliance in Mental Illness (NAMI), California, School during the pandemic: mental health impacts on students, (2020). https://namica.org/blog/impact-on-the-mental-health-of-students-during-covid-19/.
Health Central, The growing mental health effects of COVID-19 for young adults, (2020). https://www.healthcentral.com/article/mental-health-effects-of-covid-19-on-students.
Active Minds, The impact of COVID-19 on student mental health, (2020). https://www.activeminds.org/studentsurvey/.
Rahman, M.M., Asikunnaby, Khan, S.J., Arony, A., Mamun, Z.A., Procheta, N.F. et al. Mental health condition among university students of Bangladesh during the critical COVID-19 period. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(15), 4617, (2022).
Al Mamun, F., Hosen, I., Misti, J. M., Kaggwa, M.M. and Mamun, M.A. Mental disorders of Bangladeshi students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 14, 645-654, (2021).
Uddin, M. Effects of the pandemic on the education sector in Bangladesh. The Financial Express, 13(1), (2020).
The Financial Express, BD school closure eats up 3.1pc of GDP: study, (2022). https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bd-school-closure-eats-up-31pc-of-gdp-study-1653791288.
UNICEF, Ending child marriage in Bangladesh, (2017). https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/en/reports/ending-child-marriage-bangladesh
BRAC, School closure during COVID-19 pandemic: concerns over rising rate of school dropouts, child marriages, (2020). https://www.brac.net/latest-news/item/1291-school-closure-during-covid-19-pandemic-concerns-over-rising-rate-of-school-dropouts-child-marriages.
UNICEF, 10 million additional girls at risk of child marriage due to COVID-19 – UNICEF, (2021). https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/en/press-releases/10-million-additional-girls-risk-child-marriage-due-covid-19-unicef.
The Financial Express, Getting covid-time dropouts back to classes, (2021). https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/columns/getting-covid-time-dropouts-back-to-classes-1632067207.
Li, Z., Sharma, U. and Matin, M. Impact of COVID-19 on primary school students in disadvantaged areas of Bangladesh. ADB Briefs, 200, 1-8, (2021).
World Economic Forum, The COVID-19 pandemic has changed education forever, (2020). https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/coronavirus-education-global-covid19-online-digital-learning/.
The World Bank, TV-based learning in Bangladesh: is it reaching students?, (2020). https://www.ungei.org/publication/tv-based-learning-bangladesh-it-reaching-students.
Mahmud, S., Mohsin, M., Khan, I.A., Mian, A.U. and Zaman, M.A. Knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and perceived risk about COVID-19 vaccine and determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Bangladesh. PloS One, 16(9), e0257096, (2021).
UNICEF, The future of 37 million children in Bangladesh is at risk with their education severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, (2021). https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/en/press-releases/future-37-million-children-bangladesh-risk-their-education-severely-affected-covid.
Laws of Bangladesh, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, The child marriage restraint act, 1929, (2019). http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/act-details-149.html.
Laws of Bangladesh, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, The child marriage restraint act, 2017, (2017). https://www.unicef.org/bangladesh/sites/unicef.org.bangladesh/files/2018-10/Child%20Marriage%20Restraint%20Act%202017%20English.pdf.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Md. Kamrujjaman, Sadia Shihab Sinje, Tanni Rani Nandi, Fariha Islam, Md. Atikur Rahman, Asma Akter Akhi, Farah Tasnim, Md. Shah Alam
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Articles published in the Bulletin of Biomathematics are made freely available online immediately upon publication, without subscription barriers to access. All articles published in this journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (click here to read the full-text legal code). This broad license was developed to facilitate open access to, and free use of, original works of all types. Applying this standard license to your work will ensure your right to make your work freely and openly available.
Under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, authors retain ownership of the copyright for their article, but authors allow anyone to download, reuse, reprint, modify, distribute, and/or copy articles in the Bulletin of Biomathematics, so long as the original authors and source are credited.
The readers are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.