Incidence of early marriage is only 6% among secondary school aged girls who received support from Girls’ Education Program of Room to Read, whereas incidence of early marriage is 39% among other girls. This discovery came to light in the research findings sharing event organised by Room to Read Bangladesh on "Combating Early Marriage: Experience of Room to Read’s Girls' Education Program." Here it is also shown that the percentage of girls continuing education even after marriage is much higher among Room to Read supported girls than other girls. The research findings sharing event was held on March 9 at Spectra Conference Center in Gulshan-1 in the capital. Vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, Professor Dr Farzana Islam was present in the event as the chief guest. Professor Dr S M Wahiduzzama, director (College and Administration), directorate of Secondary and Higher Education was present as the special guest of the event. This research covered 500 secondary school girls from eight secondary schools of Sirajganj District. This research also reveals that Room to Read was able to reduce the incidence of early marriage through creating awareness among girls about negative consequences of early marriage, developing aspiration among girls for continuing education, improving life skill of girls to negotiate key decisions regarding their own lives, among many other aspects. Room to Read is a global organisation that develops literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond. In Bangladesh, Room to Read so far covered 195,163 government primary school children by constructing and renovating 77 primary and high schools, establishing over 2,805 class room libraries in 635 government primary schools, publishing 60 new children’s books, and providing holistic and intensive support in education over 1,430 girls in Brahmanbaria, Sirajganj and Natore districts.
Thursday, June 04, 2026
