Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project

Type ofLauhajang UZ Shibchar UZ Janjira UZInstitutes Institutes Teachers Students Institutes Teachers Students Institutes Teachers StudentsPrimary 66 639 6,600 118 708 11,800 56 633 5,600SchoolJunior High 0 0 0 8 70 1,793 2 26 884SchoolSecondary 12 344 8,524 31 548 1,5390 15 239 9,118HighSchoolCollege 2 41 423 4 154 1,837 3 404 855Islamic6 105 1,977 18 398 3,628 10 188 3,628MadrasaTotal 86 1129 17,524 179 1878 34,448 86 1490 20,085Source: www.banbeis.gov.bd, Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information and Statistics(BANBEIS), 2009.122. A sample survey of 390 households in the Project districts indicated that about 10 percentmale and 7 percent female population of schooling age never attended school as of June 2006.Again, 32 percent male and 20 percent female population of schooling age drop out within secondarylevel of school on various grounds, where poverty was the main factor (Table 3-48 illustrates thesefacts).123. The village consultation meetings during ADB TA 4652-BAN during 2006 reveal that literacyrate in the sample villages in Mawa side was 67.5 percent (70% among male and 65% among female)which included 30 percent of the population who could only sign. The study villages had primaryschools; students from these villages had access to high school education which was at a distance of7 km with easy transport facility. It was found that drop-out from primary education was rare but fromhigh school it was almost 30 percent among poorer section of the students. All the dropped-out boysenter into income-earning activities, such as hawking, working in restaurants, tea stalls, grocery shopsetc. in (ferry terminals) or outside the area. Drop-out among girls was, however, least, because theywere given cash incentives by government and NGOs in the name of scholarships, etc. Besides, therewas awareness amongst parents on education as it ultimately gives higher status and help enter intoeconomic activity as well as bear weightage in marriage.Table 3-48: Access to education by genderAgeNever attended school Dropped off within secondary levelGroupMale Female Male FemaleNumber % ofageNumber % ofageNumber % ofageNumber % ofage6-12 24 10.5 12 6.7 25 10.9 8 4.412-1819 9.5 19 14.2 105 52.5 51 38.118-25 15 9.7 9 7.1 60 39.0 30 23.6Total 58 9.9 40 6.9 190 32.6 89 20.2Source: ADB TA 4652-BAN124. Consultation meetings at Janjira side show that literacy level in the sample villages is about64 percent (68% among male and 60% among female) including 40% people who can only sign. Thevillages have government and non-government primary schools and a high school at a distance of 3km. College education is available within 10 km of the area, but means of transport is very costly and3-66