Effect of Community Factors on Primary School Learners’ Achievement in Rural Bangladesh

Abstract

The community has important roles to play in child education. This research has identified the community factors that affect the learners’. The research uses case studies. Qualitative data were captured by semi-structured interviews. Data interpretation was underpinned by concepts derived from human capital and social capital theories. The research identified six factors which are: financial position, environment, educational status, communication and support given to schools, community child care, as well as unity and cooperation among community people which affect learner’s achievement (i.e. Quality of Education). The research also suggests that the notion of “rural community roles” would tend to be thought of as “doing something for the children”. There is also an ecological balance in the relations between the community and school. The research suggests that the human capital and social capital of the community and children reinforce each other in a reproductive loop. That means the human and social capital of family and community play a role in the creation of the human and social capitals of the children (quality education), and vice-versa. These observations on education quality add a new horizon to the knowledge base of primary education, and one that may contribute to policy-making and facilitate further research.