Browsing by Author "Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R."

Now showing 1 - 10 of 10

Change in health knowledge of Bangladeshi children: five years experience
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-11) Nath, Samir Ranjan; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.
This article explores the improvement in the level of health knowledge of Bangladeshi children over a five year period 1993-1998. Data were generated from two nationally representative sample surveys covering respectively 2,520 and 3,360 children aged 11-12 years. Six health knowledge items, relevant to life in Bangladesh, were considered. Analyses revealed a significant improvement in the knowledge over the period. However, significant socio-economic variations also persisted in the performance. Rural children improved much faster compared to their urban counterparts. In both the surveys, children's performance varied significantly by items. To equip children with necessary health knowledge this study suggested strengthening health education at primary level in Bangladesh.
Differentials of the immunization program in rural Bangladesh and the issue of userfee
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998) Kamal, Firoz Mahboob; Hadi, Abdullahel; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.
This study investigated some aspects of the sustainability of the immunization program by exploring the association between immunization coverage and price affordability with some selected socioeconomic variables in rural Bangladesh. It was conducted in 75 villages in I 0 areas of five administrative districts. Eligible interviewees were 1145 resident mothers having a child of age 12 to 23 months. Both paternal and maternal education were found to have a significant influence on immunization. There was no significant association between immunization coverage and child's sex, household's cultivable land, labor sale and NGO involvement. Exposure to media like radio increases predictability of immunization by about two folds. Most people wish to pay none or minimal userfee, therefore restrict the financial sustainability of the program on its own. An increase in parental education enhances the willingness to pay userfees.
HOPE not COMPLACENCY: state of primary education in Bangladesh 1999
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-08) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.; Choudhury, Rasheda K.; Nath, Samir Ranjan
Immunization Divide: who do get vaccinated in Bangladesh
(2003) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmud, Simeen; Salam, A.K.M. Abdus; Karim, Fazlul
Impact of non-formal primary education on women's autonomy and socialisation in rural Bangladesh: evidence from BRAC villages
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-10) Kamal, Firoz M.; Hadi, Abdullahel; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.
This paper investigates the impact of non-formal primary education programme of BRAC on women's autonomy and socialisation. The study was conducted in 87 villages in Manikganj district of central Bangladesh. The data were collected in 1995 through a sample survey of 744 married women belonging to the following three categories: i. BRAC school graduates who completed full three years of education; ii. formal school students who completed third grade and discontinued; and iii. women with no schooling. Woman's autonomy was measured by the extent by which she exercised her rights in five different areas of family life, viz. i. decision making power on contraception, ii. schooling of children, iii. buying right of essential items, iv. provision of free expression of opinion in front of her husband, and v. husband's acceptance of such right for her wife. Socialisation is measured by woman's autonomy, adaptability in the family and the extent of her interaction with the surrounding environment. The multivariate analysis reveals that the nonformal primary education provided by BRAC is more contributive to women's autonomy and · socialisation than its cOunterpart who bad formal schooling (p
Jomtien, EFA goals and lessons from the ground : the challenge for the Dakar Conference
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.; Choudhury, Rasheda K.; Nath, Samir Ranjan
It is now almost ten years since the last World Conference on Education for All (WCEFA), held in Jomtien, Thailand, had called for ensuring basic education to at least 80% of the children. This paper, with latest field level data, argues that the dream of 'education for all' (EFA) has still remains a distant dream for an impoverished country like Bangladesh. There are, of course, hopes. The enrollment has increased (particularly for girls), the completion rate has risen, and the poor and less educated parents are sending their daughters in larger numbers to school than before. But the progress in terms of net enrollment has been rather slow and the children are not learning much in school. With a net enrollment of 73%, 70% completing the primary cycle, and 57% of those completing grade 5 achieving' basic education', not even 30% are receiving any meaningful education. The analysis shows that the rate of progress in terms of achieving a minimum level of basic education has been slow-- less than one percentage point per year. The Bangladesh picture has great implications for the countries meeting for the next decennial WCEFA in Dakar, Senegal. The challenge for the world is how to achieve EFA at the shortest possible time. In this, investment in education in general and its distribution, pluralism in delivery system, appropriate curriculum, positive discrimination in favor of disadvantaged groups, and a supportive supervision and monitoring system will be important ingredients.
Level and trend of basic education of children in Bangladesh: 1993-1998
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-11) Nath, Samir Ranjan; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.
Using data generated through two nationally representative sample surveys, this article explores the trends in the level of basic education of Bangladeshi children. The instrument used for the purpose was based on the Declaration of the WorId Conference on Education for All (WCEF A, Jomtien 1990). The findings reveal that the level of 'basic education' increased very slowly, 26.7 percent in 1993 to 29.6 percent in 1998, less than one percentage point per year. Statistically significant improvement was observed in 'life skills knowledge' and 'writing skills', but not in 'reading' or 'numeracy'. Girls progressed in 'reading', 'writing' and 'life skills' while the boys in 'writing' and 'life skills'. Over the period, the level improved for rural children but decreased for urban children. Bangladesh stands much behind to what was targeted at Jomtien Conference in 1990; it will have to wait until 2093 AD to reach the WCEFA goal. The country has made good progress in increasing the access to primary education but a massive drive is necessary to improve the quality of education.
Levels of basic competencies of the BRAC school graduates of 1995 and 1997
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1998-04) Nath, Samir Ranjan; Imam, Syeda Rumnaz; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.
The education programme of BRAC is designed to provide quality basic education to the poor children of Bangladesh. Based on the Declaration of the World Conference on Education, BRAC designed an instrument to measure the level of basic education of Bangladeshi children. The Research and Evaluation Division of BRAC regularly monitors the performance of graduates of BRAC schools through this instrument. This report presents the basic educational and enrolment status qf the graduates of two cohorts of 1995 and 1997. Two independent samples were drawn from two cohorts and the learners were tested nine/ten months after their graduation. The sample from 1995 cohort was also tested in 1997. Children from three systems of BRAC schools were assessed: those in Non Formal Primary Education (NFPE) and in Basic Education for Older Children (BEOC) which was directly operated by BRAC, and NFPE under the Education Support Programme (ESP) whom are operated by other NGOs using the BRAC model. The sample sizes for the two independent surveys were J259 each. Among the 1259 graduates of 1995, 949 could be traced in 1997 (75%).
Muktagacha: a targeted nutrition project in Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1997-12) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.; Mahmud, Zeba; Chowdhury, Sadia A; Nasser, Kawshiki; Hyder, SM Ziauddin
Malnutrition is one of the major public health problems in Bangladesh. Since 1993, BRAC, a national non-governmental organisation (NGO), has been carrying out a targeted nutrition project in a thana (sub-district) of Bangladesh. The major emphasis of the project are nutrition education and food supplementation to the vulnerable groups. This case study, done at the request of UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), presents the project with special attention given to different aspects of 'targeting'.
Sustainability of Scientific Journals in the developing world with special reference to Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1999-03) Ahmed, Hasan Shareef; Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R.; Khan, M Shamsul Islam; Ullah, AKM Ahsan
The study aimed to explore the sustainability issues of journal publication in Bangladesh. Forty-three journal editors were interviewed, and 66 current journals were scanned. Findings reveal that 68~1o of the journals were published late, 30°/o had inconsistencies in typesetting, and 14% were indexed. Most journals were found either excellent or of good quality in terms of printing (85~'0), binding (77~'0), paper (92%), and graphic reproduction (76~'0). Most journals were not available in major libraries. Of the 43 editors, 28 reported to have cost-recovery of 1-45% from subscription, advertisement, and sales. About 74.4% of the editors did not consider their journals at stake. Although 86% of the editors were confident that their journals would sustain in the long run, 37 .3~'0 could not cite any logic in support of their statement. Major problems include lack of finance and quality articles, skilled staff, institutional support; and lengthy peer review process. Only one claimed to be a full-time editor having training on editing and publication. Half (51%) of the editors reported to have training on editing, while four had publication training. Most editors (79%) showed keen interest in editing and publication training. Some suggestions are made to ensure sustainability of local journals.