Improving Early Childhood Education in Rural Bangladesh

Bangladesh has made significant progress in expanding access to education over the last decade. For example, the country has achieved near-universal primary school enrolment. However, more than half the children who complete primary education are unable to read, write, or count to the expected level. 

This study evaluated whether introducing preschooling in remote rural communities in Bangladesh can help prepare children for primary school. By developing and testing a set of policy interventions designed to improve children’s educational outcomes, the research demonstrates how early childhood programs could be effectively used for implementation at scale.