Inequality in Education and Child Labour in Bangladesh

 

Inequality in Education and Child Labour in Bangladesh

By Aadya Amol

In Bangladesh, education and child labour remain deeply connected challenges that continue to shape the lives of millions of children. Despite years of economic progress and development, the gap between opportunity and reality remains wide, particularly for children in poor and rural areas.

Many families still struggle to provide even the basics for their children, and poverty often forces them to make painful choices between sending their children to school or to work. According to UNICEF, nearly one third of Bangladeshi children live in multidimensional poverty. This means that millions of children face barriers not only in education but also in health, housing, and access to clean water.

The education system, while expanding, still suffers from unequal access. Urban schools generally have better facilities, more teachers, and greater resources than those in rural villages. In many remote areas, classrooms are overcrowded, textbooks are shared among several students, and teacher absenteeism is a common problem. This imbalance limits learning outcomes and reinforces cycles of inequality.

Child labour remains another major obstacle to progress. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics reported in 2024 that around 1.78 million children between the ages of five and seventeen are engaged in child labour. Of these, over one million work in hazardous conditions such as construction sites, factories, and street vending. Many of these children drop out of school or never enroll in the first place because their families depend on their income for survival.

Gender inequality adds to the burden. Although Bangladesh has made progress in girls’ education, many girls still leave school early to marry or take on household responsibilities. In rural areas, social pressures and financial hardship continue to limit educational opportunities for young girls.

Experts agree that to break this cycle, policies must address education and labour together. Providing social protection for poor families, enforcing child labour laws, and investing in rural schools can help ensure that children are not forced to work. Quality education must be accessible, affordable, and safe for every child, regardless of where they live or how much money their family earns.

Bangladesh has shown determination in improving access to learning and protecting children’s rights, but inequality remains a persistent barrier. Without stronger action, too many children will continue to grow up without the education and safety they deserve.

Bangladesh Child Labour – Bithi.” World Vision UK, 2015, https://www.worldvision.org.uk/media/a0fco3zv/bangladesh_childlabour_bithi_2015_030-0072-047.jpg

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Sources

1. UNICEF Bangladesh – One third of children in Bangladesh are trapped in multidimensional poverty (2025)

2. World Bank – Bangladesh Education Statistics (2025)

3. The Daily Star – Growing rural and urban education divide is hurting Bangladesh’s future (2024)

4. Dhaka Tribune – Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics: 1.78 million children engaged in child labour (2024)

5. UNICEF and International Labour Organization – Bangladesh not on track to eliminate child labour by 2025 (2025)

6. UNICEF Innocenti – Child Labour and Schooling in Bangladesh Report (2024)

7. ScienceDirect – Review of Bangladesh’s Child Labour Regulations (2024)