Browsing by Author "Nath, Samir R"

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Achievement of competencies of the students of BRAC non-formal primary schools
(Research and Evaluation Division, Brac, 2002-08) Nath, Samir R
Credit programme, women's autonomy a reproductive behaviour evidence from BRAC villages, Bangladesh
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1996-12) Hadi, Abdullahel; Nath, Samir R; Chowdhury, AMR
This paper investigates the role of women's autonomy on their acceptance of contraceptive method in 87 BRAC villages in Manikganj district of Bangladesh. Data for this study were obtained from 1995 sample survey of married women of reproductive age in these villages. Findings reveal that women's autonomy, as measured by the extent to which she believes that the wife should have a decision-making role in five different areas of family life, is positively associated with contraceptive use. While socioeconomic differentials in the acceptance of contraceptive are noticeable in terms of age, number of children ever born, years of schooling. exposure to mass media. land size and occupation of husband, the contraceptive practice among women involved in credit programme is found significantly higher than those not similarly involved. The multivmiate analysis reveals that participation in credit programmes is positively associated with women's empowerment when socioeconomic differentials are taken into account On the other hand, women having high autonomy score are nearly 36 percent more likely to use contraceptives (p<.OS) than those having low autonomy score, controlling for age and number of children ever born of the women. When other factors such as involvement in credit programme. years of schooling. household ownership of land. occupation of husband and exposure to mass media are systematically added to the regression equation, the influence of women's autonomy on contraceptive usc remains high with the same level of significance. The paper concludes that credit-based income generating programme has the potential to bring a significant change in reproductive behaviour of women through increased autonomy.
Education Watch 2001 : renewed hope daunting challenges
(Research and Evaluation Division, Brac, 2002) Chowdhury, A Mushtaque R; Nath, Samir R; Choudhury, Rasheda K; Manzoor Ahmed
The Education Watch came into existence in 1998. The first report of the Watch titled Hope not Complacency: Stale of Primary Ed11cation in Bangladesh was published in 1999. The main purpose of this report was to look into internal efficiency of primary education sub-system. Although there were some radical revel<~tions, the report was an instant success. The stakeholders, the practitioners, the development partners and the civil society representatives accepted the report with enthusiasm. Encournged by the success and acceptance of the first Watclt we decided to devote the second Walcll to quality aspects of primary education. As it was not possible to deal with all the quality indic<~tors of primary education we picked up two mnjor issues, assessment of lenming achievement of students and tcacher education. The first Watch found out that there was considerable exp:-~nsion of prim:-~ry education nnd near gender parity. It can not, however, be said that we achieved similnr success so fM as qu<~lity is concerned. Quality assurance remJins J distnnt go;~ I. r:or the third Watclt we have decided to revisit the intern.1l efficiency scenario. Two additional are.1s included in this Waldt <~rc private cost of educc1tion c111d income nnd expenditure of schools, nnd literacy. Findings of the internal efficiency indicators showed consistency with the first Watch. There was reasonnble qunntit<~tiv<' expnnsion. 13ut qunlity rem<~ined illusive. The government, the policy plnnncrs c1nd the stakeholders need to be concerned ;~bout how to improve quality in t;~ndem with qu<~ntit;~tivc exp
Enrolment at primary level: gender difference disappears in Bangladesh
(International Journal of Educational Development, 2002-03) Chowdhury, AMR; Nath, Samir R; Choudhury, Rasheda K.
In the recent past, there have been a number of new initiatives to improve the access to primary education in many developing countries. Such initiatives, which came from the public, private and non-governmental (NGO) sectors, have resulted in improved performance in various efficiency indicators. This paper reports results from a nationwide study in Bangladesh on the levels and changes in enrolment pattern of children at the primary level. The gross enrolment ratio has reached 107% and the net enrolment rate 77%. Gender gap has disappeared; in fact girls have surpassed boys! However, the increase in enrolment taking place is not at the desired speed; it is less than one percentage point per year. The government is still the major provider of primary education with two-thirds of all enrolments, but non-formal schools run by NGOs also have important contributions to the positive changes that are taking place in Bangladesh.
National immunization day 1996: performance and differentials
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1996-12) Hadi, Abdullahel; Nath, Samir R
Raising sanitary latrine use in rural Bangladesh: can BRAC play any role?
(BRAC Research and Evaluation Division (RED), 1996-05) Hadi, Abdullahel; Nath, Samir R
This study estimates the sanitation coverage and investigates impact of the participation in development program on the sanitation behavior in rural Bangladesh. Findings reveal that nearly a quarter of the study population has been using sanitary latrines though there are differences in use in terms of age, sex, education, occupation, land size and involvement with credit based development program. The multivariate analysis reveals that households involved with BRAC program are 3.66 times more likely to use sanitary latrine (p<.OI) than those who are socioeconomically similar with BRAC members but not involved in such program controlling for education and occupation of the household head. When other factors such as religion, ownership of land, housing condition, level of media exposure and the presence of BRAC programs are systematically added to the regression equation, the role of BRAC on sanitation behavior is still found significant. The study argues that social and behavioral aspects of the organized development program in rural Bangladesh can significantly increase safe sanitation practice in a traditional society.
School evaluation mechanism in BRAC education programme
(Research and Evaluation Division, Brac, 2002-07) Nath, Samir R
This paper aims to examine the existing school evaluation provision in BRAC non-formal primary education programme. Information for this paper, was collected through scanning of existing documents, and discussing with the programme personnel at various levels. The examination focuses the process of evaluating school quality considering school as a unit of analysis. It was observed that there is a school evaluation system in BRAC education programme. Although the system is not sound enough it serves the programme with some limitations. There is possibility that all attempts regarding school improvement are not reflected in the evaluation process. This paper also analyses the limitations in current practices and provides suggestions for improvements.
Socioeconomic impact of BRAC Schools
(Research and Evaluation Division, Brac, 2002) Hossain, Altaf; Nath, Samir R; Choudhury, AMR
BRAC, one of the largest NGOs in Bangladesh, stru1ed the Non-formal Primary Education (NFPE) programme to help achieve its twin objectives of poverty alleviation and empowerment of the poor. BRAC firmly believes that the raising of the education standard is one of the most effective ways to improve the country's human development records. Many children are deprived of education because of poverty and gender. BRAC developed NFPE programme for those children who had no access to schooling or for those who dropped out. It was expected that NFPE will help them participate effectively in their own socio-economic development by increasing their literacy, numeracy and required life skills. The NFPE programme was started in 1985 with 22 non-formal schools for children aged 8-10 and 11-16 years and by the end of 1999, the total number of schools reached 34,000 and children graduating over 1.5 million. This clearly shows the success of the programme. Recent studies have observed that children of BRAC schools perform better than their counterparts in formal schools in attaining basic education in general and life skills knowledge and writing in particular. However, a very limited attempt has been made to explore the socio-economic effects of NFPE. Therefore it was important to assess the extent to which NFPE contributes to such changes in the desired direction.
Towards a profile of the ultra poor in Bangladesh: findings from CFPR/TUP baseline survey
(BRAC, 2004-09) Matin, Imran; Hadi, Abdullahel; Ahmed, Syed Masud; Akter, Nasima; Jakariya, M; Halder, Shantana R.; Rafi, Mohammad; Nath, Samir R; Haseen, Farhana; Quasem, lftekhar; Yusuf, Harun KM