Case studies >>Impact assessment of the Girl's Education Stipend Programme in Bangladesh


First published: 2009-06-01

The Female Stipend Programme (FSP) is an innovative nationwide programme, covering all areas of rural Bangladesh. It was established over 20 years ago to enable and encourage girls to benefit from secondary education. SDDirect was commissioned to undertake an in-depth assessment of the stipend programme, identifying impact and generating transferable lessons for similar work in other countries.

SDDirect brought together a team of national and international experts, representing a mix of expertise in gender analysis and secondary schooling, as well as in-depth knowledge of the socio-economic and political context in Bangladesh. As well as analysing outcomes, the team produced a set of recommendations, which have since informed national education policy development. Whilst the study sought to identify achievements and experiences resulting from the programme, it also focused on how a range of gender issues affect the success or failure of such programmes.

This included issues relating to employment and income generation as well as mobility and security. The team also analysed the impact of marriage, dowry, contraception and parenthood in determining the perceived value of girls’ education which underpin decisions made by families about whether girls should be allowed to go to school.

The study centred on a set of 45 cs studies of girls and women from four contrasting districts who had received stipends from the programme. A number of research tools were used, including semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders, from school children to government representatives and informal group discussions with community members. Quantitative data was also collected and analysed to complement the qualitative work. The study revealed a wealth of information about the views and aspirations of girls and women whose lives had been affected by the Female Stipend Programmes.

Of particular significance was the finding that girls who have been to secondary school felt they were increasingly being seen as people in their own right within both  their families and the communities in which they lived. However, the study also highlighted that many constraints still stand in the way of girls being able to make decisions about family, education or employment.

The recommendations made by SDDirect looked beyond the existing programme to consider the importance of reforming school curricula, the role of higher and vocational education, and the need to support women in pursuing less traditional career paths, for example opportunities in business and commerce. Another important area identified in the study was the need to encourage stronger linkages between schools, social movements and social mobilisation initiatives to build girls’ confidence and broaden gender sensitive social awareness amongst both girls and boys.