The latest results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exams in Bangladesh reveal a significant achievement by female students. Once again, girls have surpassed boys in performance, maintaining this trend for the past eight years. This year, the gap widened notably, with a pass rate of 66.68 percent for girls compared to 57.86 percent for boys, marking an 8.82 percentage point difference. Additionally, girls obtained 63,896 GPA-5 results, outnumbering boys who achieved 52,780. Despite more boys taking the exams, a total of 607,939 female candidates passed compared to 530,938 male candidates.
Although girls excel academically, there remains a discrepancy in translating their educational success into improved job prospects, higher incomes, career progression, and leadership representation. While Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in girls’ education, achieving parity with boys, especially at the primary level, the transition to economic participation remains unequal. The latest Labour Force Survey reported a 38.40 percent labor force participation rate among women in contrast to 79.96 percent among men in 2024. Only 2.29 crore women were employed compared to 4.62 crore men, indicating a significant gender disparity in employment. Furthermore, female employment has been on the decline since 2022.
One significant reason for this gender gap is the burden of family responsibilities. Data from the country’s first Time-Use Survey conducted in 2021 by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) revealed that women spend an average of 11.7 hours daily on domestic and care work, significantly more than men who spend only 1.6 hours. This unequal distribution of responsibilities hinders women’s career advancement by diverting time that could be utilized for paid work and professional growth.
Another critical barrier to women’s progress is the lack of accessible childcare facilities nationwide. With only 63 publicly funded childcare centers in Bangladesh, many low- and middle-income families struggle to afford private options. A study conducted in 2024 highlighted that inadequate childcare is a major obstacle to workforce participation, with 54 percent of parents citing it as a barrier. This shortage of childcare leads to women leaving their jobs, experiencing lower job performance, and declining job offers due to childcare constraints.
Taking a career break can have long-term repercussions for women, affecting their experience, professional networks, and opportunities for promotion. While family responsibilities impact both men and women, women often face more significant challenges due to societal expectations and structural barriers. The Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics 2022 indicated a substantial gap between NEET (not in education, employment, or training) rates among women (61.71%) and men (18.59%) aged 15 to 24. This suggests that factors beyond individual preference, such as societal norms and structural barriers, influence women’s economic participation.
In conclusion, educational success alone cannot guarantee equal opportunities for women in the workforce. It is essential to address structural barriers, improve workplace conditions, promote gender equality in domestic responsibilities, and expand affordable childcare services. By ensuring women can sustain their academic achievements into their careers, Bangladesh can harness the full potential of its female workforce, contributing to economic growth and societal progress.
