Empowering Children through Education (ECE) Project

The Empowering Children through Education (ECE) project builds on the success of the Empowering Girls through Education (EGE) initiative and aims to enhance foundational learning outcomes for primary-grade students (grades I–V) in Bangladesh. The project, implemented in partnership with the government’s remedial education pilot in Kurigram and Jamalpur, seeks to close learning gaps, develop 21st-century skills among underperforming students, and strengthen teaching capacity. A comprehensive baseline study was conducted to assess both students’ academic competencies in Bangla, English, and Mathematics, and the professional competencies and well-being of teachers.

Using a quasi-experimental design integrating both quantitative and qualitative methods, the study evaluated 3,895 students, 223 assistant teachers, 79 headteachers, and 134 classroom sessions across 80 government primary schools in four Upazilas. Data collection included competency assessments, background surveys, classroom observations, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews with teachers, parents, and education officials.

Key findings reveal substantial learning gaps among students and highlight the urgent need for remedial education support. While most teachers demonstrate a sense of motivation, safety, and collegial respect, only 2.7% have received any training on mental stress management. Teachers identified school administrative tasks as the most stressful, with 75.8% acknowledging a strong link between workload and mental stress. Despite this, self-motivation remains high, with many citing recognition and promotion as key motivators.

Teachers also reported high levels of empowerment, particularly in planning lessons (79.4%), voicing opinions (75.3%), and problem-solving (90.6%). The study concludes that while motivation and empowerment levels are promising, targeted interventions are needed to improve teacher well-being, enhance instructional capacity, and close the student learning gap in underserved regions.