Browsing by Author "Akter, Shaheen"

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An analysis of issues and problems of BRAC's Gonokendra Pathagar
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-12) Khan, Md. Kaisar Ali; Akter, Shaheen
This study aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of issues and problems that effect the normal operation of BRAC Gonokendra Pathagar (community based library). Information was collected from six pathagars through in-depth interviews. It was found that community perception towards BRAC Gonokendra Pathagars was positive. The community participated actively in establishing the pathagars that remained active until BRAC contribution was given. The trend of pathagar use gradually increased in the 1 st year of establishment, but declined from the second year. The trend of borrowing books in majority pathagars was found to decline while school examinations became closer and during the long vacations. Predominance of female users was found much higher in the Female type pathagars, but it was lower in the General and Small type pathagars. Almost all the users had interest in newspaper. Reading materials were required in accordance with the level and types of the users, and most users required to have more reference books and religious books. Access of all types of users should be ensured to maximize the utilization of the pathagars. Reading materials should be made available according to their needs and interests. As the normal functioning of the pathagars depends on active committees, careful attention should be given in selecting the committee members to make the pathagar programme more effective and sustainable.
An assessment of male attitude towards violence against women
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2003-05) Rafi, Mohammad; Banu, Dilruba; Alim, Md. Abdul; Akter, Shaheen
Violence against women is a global burden. In violence against women wives, mothers and daughters are battered, raped, verbally abused, neglected, deprived of human dignity and means to meet their basic needs. The cost of violence is not only monetary but also emotional and social. Violence against women is a human rights issue. It is deeply rooted in culture and religion; supported and in many cases, even institutionalized by patriarchal societies. Enormous cost or violence along with the fact that it is man made problem justifies any effort in reducing violence against women. The recognition of the fact that violence against women is unjust and prevention of such violence is a precondition to development arc the impetuses in taking initiatives in preventing violence against women in our society. As a first step to such an initiative the study was initiated. The main objective of this study was to understand the psychosocial dimensions of the attitudes of men towards violence against women. Under this broad theme the study focused on several issues: analyze pattern of violence; assess men's attitude towards women in general. and their attitude towards violence against women in particular; and find out what it would take to stop violent behavior of men towards women. The study revolves around two important concepts, i.e .. male violence against women and their attitude towards it. Violence against women results in. or is likely to result in, physical, sexual and psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. This definition refers to four types of violence - psychological and physical assaults, and violence related to action and deprivation. Attitude refers to beliefs and feelings about a person or event and the resulting support or opposition to those. Taken together, favorable or unfavorable reactions - whether exhibited in beliefs, fee lings, or inclinations to act - define a person's attitude towards something.
Clean energy transition in rural Bangladesh: Challenges in adoption and impact
(Energy Sources Part B Economics Planning and Policy, 2024-10) Rahman, Sadique; Sujan, Hayder Khan; Alam, Sherf-Ul; Akter, Shaheen
At the household level, the solar photovoltaic (PV) system is an off-grid clean energy source with significant poverty reduction potential, thereby contributing to the attainment of several sustainable development goals. Nevertheless, there has been limited adoption of renewable or clean energy technologies in Bangladesh. At present, renewable energy sources account for only 3% of the country’s electricity generation. This study thus investigates the drivers of solar PV adoption and the impact of this on household income and poverty in Bangladesh. We present an econometric analysis of data from the International Food Policy Research Institute’s Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey, 2020. Our findings indicate that only 5.51% of the sample households adopted solar PV, with the likelihood of adoption 3.8% higher in households with a mobile phone, 1.7% higher in households with internet access, and 2.8% higher among homeowners. However, the government’s programs to expand the electricity grid made the delivery of solar PV by partner organizations less competitive. Our analysis reveals that the adoption of solar PV has a positive effect on household income of between 9.31% and 13.50%. The poverty gap is likely to decrease by around 20% to 26% due to adoption. These findings are pertinent to ongoing policy development efforts targeted at increasing the adoption of renewable energy to meet the sustainable development goals. Solar PV information could be potentially disseminated through mass media and modern communication technologies that require internet access. Furthermore, increasing the installation of solar PV systems in rented houses may promote the adoption of solar PV. It is imperative to implement policies that provide incentives for the installation and utilization of solar PV.
Development of instruments to assess the achievement of national competencies at the end of primary education cycle
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 2000-08) Nath, Samir Ranjan; Ghosh, Sanat Kumar; Akter, Shaheen
This report presents a detailed description of development of assessment tools for the evaluation of students' learning achievement on the basis of 53 terminal competencies specified by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) of the Government of Bangladesh. This is the first attempt in the country to cover all the terminal competencies in assessment process. A team of school-teachers, teacher educators, curriculum experts, education psychologists, test development experts participated in the process. The competencies were divided into two broad categories viz., cognitive and non-cognitive. Two separate tools were developed for assessing the two types of competencies on the basis of pilot studies in both rural and urban areas. For the cognitive competencies a paper and pencil based test instrument containing 66 items was developed. For the assessment of non-cognitive competencies a tool was developed to have teachers' appraisal of students qualifications. It is expected that valid and reliable estimates of students' performance could be obtained through these tools.
Development of standardized achievement tests for BRAC NFPE Schools
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1995) Latif, A. H.; Haq, Muhammad Nazmul; Arzoo, Mir Jahan Ara; Akter, Shaheen; Hasan, Monira
Measurement of learners' achievement in schools continues to be a great concern to educational administrators, teachers and guardians. Learner's status in the school, his/her future endeavors and many other personal attributes depend on achievements in school examinations. Though examination is a crucial factor in the formal education system it is not presently seen as an important clement in BRAC's NFPE programme. Learners once admitted to the NFPE school are expected . to complete the three year course unless one is dropped or moved out. Teachers rate their learners regularly in the class and provide remedial measures should it be necessary. This is the common approach in the non formal system but it does not provide indicators . that accurately measure students' cognitive performance and skills. After completion of NFPE schooling, most of the learners arc expected to enter into the government primary schools either in grade IV or V depending on the result of some sort of admission test. As BRAC's NFPE programme includes quality inputs, the standard of output, ie., the learners' achievements are expected to be of high quality. That is why, it is all the more necessary that the NFPE graduates should be evaluated in reference to particular achievement criteria ie., test scores, so that necessary measures can be taken and changes required are incorporated in the programme for ensuring the quality set' for it.
Learners' achievement in Chandina learning improvement project: an evaluation
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-07) Kalam, Md. Abul; Akter, Shaheen
Learning achievement of the students after completion of grade five from BRAC schools
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-11) Hossain, Md. Altaf; Akter, Shaheen; Kalam, Md. Abul
The Non-Formal Primary Education (NFPE) programme of BRAC introduced class four and five to its curriculum to mesh with the formal primary education. BRAC launched this primary education programme in its 1000 schools throughout the country on a pilot basis and provided one-year additional schooling to cover classes four and five. At the end of the first cycle, this study is initiated to evaluate the performance of the learners to measure the overall performance of the programme.
Status of Non Formal Primary Education (NFPE) at Chandina: a baseline survey
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-06) Haq, M Nazmul; Begum, Feroza; Akter, Shaheen