Bangladesh children lose 4.5 yrs of school learning: WB

Bangladeshi children born in 2018 will attain a maximum of 48 per cent of potential productivity when they will grow up, if they enjoy complete education and full health, says ‘Human Capital Index’.

However, the index introduced by the World Bank shows, the Bangladeshi students learn only 6.5 years of the 11 years at school until the age of 18 and 36 per cent children are stunted.

Still, 87 per cent of Bangladeshis of over 15 years will survive until age 60, according to the index the WB launched in Bali, Indonesia, on Thursday.

Human capital has been defined as ‘knowledge, skills, and health’ that people accumulate over their lives, enabling them to realise their potential as productive members of society.

Bangladesh’s human capital index (HCI), as compiled in the context of 2017, is higher than the average for South Asia region but lower than the average for its income group.

The Bangladesh students, in line with the index, score 368 on a scale where 625 represent advanced attainment and 300 minimum attainment.

The HCI global report said 56 per cent of children born today across the world will lose more than half their potential lifetime earnings.

The WB index blamed governments for not currently making effective investments in their people to ensure a healthy, educated, and resilient population ready for the workplace of the future.

In Bangladesh, stunting and quality of education holds back a child for achieving her full potential.

WB country director Qimiao Fan said Bangladesh’s strong track record of poverty reduction and development show that with the right policies and actions, further progress is possible.

“Over the last decade, our government has consistently improved human capital and created better opportunities for our population. From independence in 1971, the country has come a long way,” said finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith.

About Bangladesh’s achievement in reducing child and maternal mortality, and fertility rate, he said Bangladesh is among the few developing countries to achieve gender parity in school enrollment. “This progress is captured in the Human Capital Index.”

This index measures the amount of human capital that a child born today can expect to attain by age 18, given the risks of poor health and education that prevail in the country where he or she lives. It also measures each country’s distance to the frontier of complete education and full health for a child born today.

In Bangladesh, 97 per cent of children are likely to survive to age five, and about 87 per cent of 15-year olds are likely to survive to age 60.

Furthermore, a child who starts school at the age of four will complete schooling by her/his 18th birthday. The country performs well in gender equity as a girl is found to have higher human capital than a boy.

“But, with about 36 per cent children stunted, there is no room for complacency,” said the WB.

Human capital is often the only capital for the poorest people, said WB Group president Jim Yong Kim.

“Human capital is a key driver of sustainable, inclusive economic growth, but investing in health and education has not gotten the attention it deserves. This index creates a direct line between improving outcomes in health and education, productivity, and economic growth,” he said expressing hope that it drives countries to take urgent action and invest more in their people.