TV-Based Learning in Bangladesh : Is it Reaching Students?

Abstract

Is TV-based learning during COVID-19
\n school closures in Bangladesh reaching students? Most
\n students (86 percent) within our sample of more than 2,000
\n Grade 9 stipend recipients are aware of government provided
\n TV-based learning programs; yet only half of the students
\n with access to these programs choose to access them. Also,
\n very few students (21 percent) have access to government
\n provided online learning programs, and among those that do,
\n only about 2 percent choose to access them. There is a
\n perceptible decline in the time students spend studying at
\n home after school closures. This may be linked to the fact
\n that 1 in 2 parents claim they are unable to help their
\n children with new topics. Despite lower education, mothers
\n are significantly more likely to be involved in the child’s
\n education compared to fathers. Most students (90 percent)
\n claim they have a supportive environment at home for
\n studying. This is true for both boys and girls. Finally,
\n nearly 65 percent of households in our sample report
\n declines in income and 28 percent had to decrease the amount
\n of food consumed within the household in the previous week.