A BRAC school teacher visiting a student’s home and talking to her mother.
While many schools report low attendance post-pandemic, BRAC schools are seeing 90% of students return - despite serving communities with the least resources. The secret lies in teachers who refused to let lockdowns stop education.
Typical Schools
- Empty classrooms
- Girls particularly affected
- 1 girl returned in Kurigram school
- Others married during closure
BRAC Schools
- 90% attendance rate
- Consistent girl participation
- Teachers maintained contact
- Innovative remote learning
The Teacher Difference
BRAC teachers became education lifelines during lockdowns:
📱 Phone Schooling
20-minute conference calls with 3-4 students twice weekly
🏡 Home Visits
121,000+ homes visited in 2021 alone
📝 Home Projects
Practical assignments for independent learning
Why "Ghore Bose Shikhi" TV Program Wasn't Enough
The government's television learning initiative reached only:
- 16% of rural students
- 21% of urban students
For BRAC students, challenges were greater - no TVs, unreliable electricity, and no teacher interaction.
Kamrun Nahar's Story
"I visited five students' homes every day. They were far apart, and walking in the heat was tiring. But my students' happy faces and their parents' warmth kept me going."
- 18 years teaching with BRAC
Tailoring Solutions to Different Realities
Urban Challenges
- Families living in single rooms
- No dedicated study space
- Constant noise and activity
Rural/Haor Challenges
- Changing water levels
- Need for boat transportation
- Multiple transport modes required
The Proof Is in the Numbers
While challenges remain in addressing learning gaps and preventing dropouts, BRAC's teacher-driven approach demonstrates that consistent, compassionate engagement can overcome even the most daunting barriers to education.
BRAC started working in education in 1985. Its high quality, affordable, scalable schooling model has made it one of the world's largest providers of secular, private education. Its holistic approach to lifelong learning, addressing educational needs from early childhood to higher academic levels supported over 15 million students across five countries to graduate to date.