Education experts and policymakers said on Sunday that strengthening Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) could improve education quality, increase student attendance and reduce dropout rates in Bangladesh.
The observations came at a knowledge dissemination session titled “Knowledge Dissemination on PTA Strengthening and FLN Catch-up Initiative Inception: Learning Together” at the BRAC Centre in Mohakhali. The event was organized by the BRAC Education Program.
Speakers at the event said quality education depends on stronger partnerships among schools, families and local communities. They also said the National Education Policy 2010 recommends active PTAs to help address dropout and support school development, but clearer implementation guidelines are needed.
Md Shakhawat Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, said student dropout remains one of the major challenges in the country’s education system.
“Many students leave school before reaching the SSC examination stage. One of the reasons is that they fail to properly understand lessons taught in the classroom,” he said.
He said efforts are under way to strengthen teacher accountability and identify struggling learners through diagnostic assessments so they can receive support to continue their education.
“The government is committed to bringing primary education in Bangladesh to global standards,” he said.
Safi Rahman Khan, director of BRAC’s Education, Skills Development and Migration Program, said education quality and accountability cannot depend only on a centralized system.
“A broader social movement is needed to increase parents' awareness of both their responsibilities and rights in ensuring quality education for their children,” he said.
He added that stronger parental involvement can improve learning outcomes and help make school management more transparent and accountable.
Mohammad Atiqur Rahaman, additional director general (PEDP-4) of the Directorate of Primary Education, said PTAs are among the education sector’s most underused resources.
“If PTAs are activated effectively, they can strengthen teacher accountability and significantly contribute to improving the quality of primary education and achieving foundational learning outcomes,” he said.
Md Moazzem Hossain, program head (development) of BRAC Education Program, presented the findings and achievements of the PTA Strengthening Project and introduced the Accelerated Catch-Up Learning Program, which aims to address learning gaps among primary school students.
BRAC said the PTA Strengthening Project is being implemented in 46 government primary schools in Sadar, Badarganj and Pirganj upazilas of Rangpur district. The initiative aims to improve PTA effectiveness, enhance parental awareness and encourage greater community engagement in schools.
A BRAC study on the project found that schools with effective PTAs recorded lower levels of child labor and higher student attendance. It also found increased mental health-related activities and support mechanisms for students in schools where PTAs were active.
BRAC has also launched the Accelerated Catch-Up Learning Program to help students recover from learning losses and improve foundational literacy and numeracy skills.
The three-year program will be implemented in six upazilas and cover 735 government primary schools. It will provide remedial support for students in Classes 3 to 5 who have fallen behind academically, while preventive interventions will target students in Classes 1 and 2.
The program is expected to improve reading, writing and mathematics skills, while also strengthening the capacities of teachers, headteachers and education officials.
Profulla Chandra Barman, senior adviser to BRAC’s Education Program, said quality education cannot be ensured by schools alone.
“When parents actively participate in their children's education, the impact on learning outcomes is profound and long-lasting,” he said.
Education experts at the event said strengthening PTAs and addressing learning gaps through targeted interventions could help Bangladesh improve educational quality, reduce dropout rates and ensure that children acquire foundational skills.