As a land of extreme rural poverty and illiteracy, Bangladesh needs to consciously promote, develop, and support local institutions and participatory leadership, involving local people in the planning, development, and implementation of developmental policies. Begun in 1959, the Comilla experiment constitutes the rationale for institutional planning, emphasizing local planning participation via local organizations, governments, and co-operatives working with governmental agencies that supply training and materials. Depending heavily upon systematized nonformal training programs, the Comilla experiment identified, trained, and educated natural rural leaders to act as change agents. Bangladesh's formal education system has traditionally emphasized the humanities, producing"gentlemen" contemptuous of labor and virtually unskilled. As the biggest institutional framework in Bangladesh, the formal school system has a great potential for providing basic education at the primary level and for "vocationalizing" secondary education. However, the immediate needs of literacy and production suggest that Bangladesh focus upon a strategy for nonformal education that includes: multisectoral community action programs; decentralized planning and implementation; a national policy to coordinate activities; integrated development; self-reliant financing; maximum use of existing institutions and resources; research and evaluation; and target specific priorities. (JC).

Two of the largest World Bank investment projects in Bangladesh are the general education project and the female secondary scholarship and assistance project. This paper evaluates the expected results of these educational projects using the household and school survey data recently collected in rural Bangladesh. Bangladesh spends only 2 percent of its GNP on education, compared to 3.2 percent in an average low-income country and 6 percent in an average high-income country. Low investment in education results in low literacy (only 35 percent), which in turn results in low productivity, low incomes, poor health, and, above all, high population growth. To counter these trends, Bangladesh has invested substantially in the education sector in recent years, with the help of the World Bank and other donor agencies. The objective of this investment has been to improve both the quality and quantity of education, especially among the female population. The general education and female secondary school assistance projects are, in particular, geared to promote better access to primary and secondary education, as well as higher school participation and educational attainment. Based on the rural household and school survey data on both supply and demand factors, this report concludes that school interventions such as more and better schools, better trained and educated teachers, more female teachers, and better water and sanitation facilities in schools promote literacy and improve school participation and school attainment rates. Independent of school-level interventions, complementary investments in village infrastructure (roads and electricity) also have beneficial effects on educational outcomes. The effects of all these interventions are more pronounced for girls than for boys. Contains 28 data tables and figures. (Author/TD)

An international joint study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UNESCO's International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) was conducted on education and rural development to review the status of the topic from the standpoint of public policies and the conceptual frameworks on which they are based and also to shed light on what may be called "good practice." The findings of the study are meant to serve not as models, but rather as points of reference for all those who are seeking ways of developing education in rural areas and contributing more effectively to rural development. Chapter I, "Education and Rural Development: Setting the Framework" (David Atchoarena and Charlotte Sedel), provides a contextual and theoretical introduction to the new rural development and poverty reduction thinking, as well as a discussion on the contribution of education to rural development. In Chapter II, "Basic Education in Rural Areas: Status, Issues and Prospects" (Michael Lakin with Lavinia Gasperini), the book reviews in depth the provision of basic education in rural areas and offers some policy directions for improvement. Further exploring a particular dimension of basic education, Chapter III, "Making Learning Relevant: Principles and Evidence from Recent Experiences" (Peter Taylor, Daniel Desmond, James Grieshop and Aarti Subramaniam), devotes specific attention to strategies linking the formal school teaching with students' life environment, including agriculture, and to garden-based learning. The intention is to provide updated information and new insights on much-debated aspects which are often associated with rural areas although their application is much broader. Chapter IV, "Strategies and Institutions for Promoting Skills for Rural Development" (David Atchoarena, Ian Wallace, Kate Green, and Candido Alberto Gomes), shifts the analysis from education to work and discusses the implications of the transformation of rural labor markets for skill development. A particular concern is the rise in rural non-farm employment and the need to enlarge the policy focus from agricultural education and training to technical and vocational education for rural development. This debate is taken further in Chapter V, "Higher Education and Rural Development: A New Perspective" (Charles Maguire and David Atchoarena), which considers higher level skills and the contribution of the tertiary education sector to rural development. Special attention is given to the reform of higher agricultural institutions and lessons based on case studies are provided to document good practice in institutional reform. Finally, Chapter VI, "Main Findings and Implications for Policy and Donor Support" (David Atchoarena with Lavinia Gasperini, Michael Lakin and Charles Maguire), concentrates on the main findings of the study and discusses policy implications and possible responses for donors and countries. (Contains 28 tables, 14 figures, and 64 boxes.).

This handbook is an important reference work in understanding education systems in the South Asia region, their development trajectory, challenges and potential. The handbook includes the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries for discussion---Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka---while also considering countries such as Myanmar and the Maldives that have considerable shared history in the region. Such a comparative perspective is largely absent within the literature given the present paucity of intra-regional interaction. South Asian education systems are viewed primarily through a development lens in terms of inequalities, challenges and responses. However, the development of modern institutions of education and the challenges that it faces requires cultural and historical understanding of indigenous traditions as well as indigenous modern thinkers and education movements. Therefore, this encompassing referenc e work covers indigenous education traditions, formal education systems, including school and preschool education, higher and professional education, education financing systems and structures, teacher education systems, addressing huge linguistic and other diversities, and marginalization within the formal education system, and pedagogy and curricula. All the countries in this region have their own unique geographical, cultural, economic and political character and histories of interest and significance, and have responded to common issues such as overcoming the colonial legacy, language diversity, or girls’ education, or minority rights in education, in uniquely different ways. The sections therefore include country-specific perspectives as far as possible to highlight these issues. Internationally renowned specialists of South Asian education systems have contributed to this important reference work, making it an invaluable resource for researchers and students of education interested in South Asia.

Reaching out into the rural English teaching and learning environment led to compiling these chapters that exemplify the possibilities and achievements of teachers worldwide. Often with overly large classes, isolation, and few resources, English instruction leads to extrinsic success for their students with future educational, professional, and economic outcomes. In other instances, the fruits of teachers’ labor become intrinsic motivators for learners who value learning and critical thinking. English in the international curriculum has perceived value for developing human and social capital, as indicated in these authors’ personal and professional journeys. This volume was originally begun by Paul Chamness Iida, who sadly passed away in June 2021. The editors have done their best to complete this project as he envisioned and share this work in his honor. Contributors are: Mary Frances Agnello, Md. Al Amin, Naoko Araki, Monica A. Baker, Xingtan Cao, Mary Coady, Florent Domenach, Lee E. Friederich, Arely Romero García, Maribel Villegas Greene, Janinka Greenwood, Dongni Guo, Paul Chamness Iida (deceased), Irham Irham, Munchuree Kaosayapandhu, Wuri P. Kusumastuti, Di Liang, Carla Meskill, Erin Mikulec, Piotr Romanowski, Leticia Araceli Salas Serrano, Fang Wang, Emilia Wąsikiewicz-Firlej, Jing Yixuan, Jing Zhiyuan and Dai Chang Zhi.

"Rural Development is a deliberate transformation towards the advancement of the financial and societal standard of living of the rural poor through amplified production, impartial delivery of possessions, and empowerment. In general, a deliberate transformation towards rural institution building and progression in technology. Bangladesh, nearly 50 years into its liberation, stays on the route to development and the country is looking forward to transitioning into a developed state by 2041. There is global pressure also. Rural development plays a key role in attaining the targets. The Bangladesh Academy for Rural Development (BARD) is a pioneer institute for attaining rural development in Bangladesh. The academy is acknowledged as a center of excellence regarding training, research and action research. The institute was established in 1959 with the intention of provide training to the public officials and representatives of the local government and village institutions on diverse matters concerning to rural development. Still, the institution provides training to diverse stakeholders. Moreover, a large quantity of international clientele comprising scholars, research fellows, experts, government bureaucrats, affiliates of diplomatic corps and global organizations visit the academy. The academy has been steering socio-economic study from the time of its beginning. Research outcomes are used as training resources and contributions for introducing action research by the Academy itself. It also works as data resources and policy ideas for the policy makers, Ministries, and Planning Commission. In certain circumstances, these are also dispersed among the global organizations and institutes. BARD conducts investigational projects to progress models of better-quality institution, managerial arrangements in addition to harmonization and approaches of production. The project events generally include the villagers' development institutes, local bodies and public officials. To this point the Academy has directed more than 50 investigational projects on different facets of rural development. Finally, in the era of globalization and pressure of implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the book provides an immense knowledge on "Rural Development" issue in Bangladesh perspective"--

Bangladesh has made remar ...

South Africa's democratic government inherited a divided and unequal system of education. Under apartheid, South Africa had nineteen different educational departments separated by race, language, geography and ideology. This education system prepared learners in different ways for the positions they were expected to occupy in social, economic and political life under apartheid and was funded and resourced in ways that favoured white people and disadvantaged black people who remain in the working class. The newly elected democratic government in 1994 laid a foundation for a single national education system. Twenty-five years after the dawn of democracy, education is still in a parlous state in many communities in South Africa, but it is in the rural areas mainly in the former homelands that learners are most disadvantaged. Contributors are: Olufemi Timothy Adigun, Oluwatoyin Ayodele Ajani, Alan Bhekisisa Buthelezi, Joyce Phikisile Dhlamini, Bongani Thulani Gamede, Samantha Govender, Lawrence Kehinde, Nontobeko Prudence Khumalo, Primrose Ntombenhle Khumalo, Azwidohwi Philip Kutame, Manthekeleng Linake, Sive Makeleni, Nkhensani Maluleke, Bothwell Manyonga, Mncedisi Christian Maphalala, Takalani Mashau, Hlengiwe Romualda Mhlongo, Rachel Gugu Mkhasibe, Dumisani Wilfred Mncube, Nicholus Tumelo Mollo, Ramashego Shila Mphahlele, Fikile Mthethwa, Grace Matodzi Muremela, Edmore Mutekwe, Nokuthula Hierson Ndaba, Clever Ndebele, Thandiwe Nonkululeko Ngema, Phiwokuhle Ngubane, Sindile Ngubane, Dumisani Nzima, Livhuwani Peter Ramabulana, and Maria Tsakeni.