Page 1 of 13
Journal for Studies in Management and
Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04
Issue10
October 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 14
Literacy status and future ambition of the students of junior school certificate and
above level in a village of Bangladesh
Sayeed Mahmud,Ph.D,M.Phil,MPH,MBBS
Associate Professor and Head,
Department of Community Medicine, Chittagong Medical College and Hospital,
Chittagong, Bangladesh
sayeed_cmc@yahoo.com
Abu Zafar Mahmudul Haq, Ph.D
Associate Professor,
Department of Business Administration, City University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
cityuniversity1215@gmail.com
Md. Ruhul Amin,MBBS,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Paediatric, Rangpur Medical College and Hospital, Rangpur, Bangladesh
aminpaed@yahoo.com
Abstract
The objective of the study was to measure the literacy status of the students of JSC and
above level followed by their future ambition which they desire to achieve. The study
was descriptive type. Number of selected students were 224 and household head of these
students were interviewed through pre tested questionnaires. The selected village was
Maddaham Sonaphar of Mirsharai upazila of the Chittagong district in Bangladesh.
Selection of the study site and students were done purposively. Analysis was conducted
through frequency and percentage. Many outcomes were derived from the study. The
study showed that in majority(32.36%) of the families possess 3 illiterate members but
only 1 illiterate were present in 7.8% families. It is also noted that out of 224 students,
30.30% had ambition to become doctor and 20.32% had expressed their desire to become
teacher. Majority of the students (37.05%) acknowledged that they were inspired by their
parents towards their ambition.
Keywords: Literacy, students, future ambition, village, Bangladesh
1.Introduction
The average literacy rate in Bangladesh was 29.23% in 1981 and now it is about 70%
(UNESCO). It has become possible due to development of the socioeconomic
infrastructure, awareness of people, joint attempts of different government and non
government organizations. The Government of Bangladesh is also spending 2.2% of the
country GDP for the purpose of education (UNESCO).
In course of time, Bangladesh has passed a long way in case of education of the country.
Literacy status of students of JSC and above level are now being progressed. The
guardians are also realizing the importance of right of education as well as they
emphasize on the education of their children.
The literacy rate of some the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh like Thailand is 93%,
Sri Lanka 91%, Myanmar 90%, Malaysia 89% (UNESCO). Even Georgia has literacy
rate of 100%. Thus, Bangladesh should take appropriate measures to increase literacy.
The education target of SDG goals in Bangladesh is to “ensure inclusive and equitable
quality education and promote life long learning opportunities for all”. But there are some
Page 2 of 13
Journal for Studies in Management and
Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04
Issue10
October 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 15
obstacles to fulfill the goals such as poverty, overpopulation, discrimination, lack of
awareness, lack of qualified teachers etc. Under the current circumstances the objective
of the study is to examine the literacy status and future ambition of the students of JSC
and above the level of JSC in the selected village of Bangladesh.
2.Literature Review
The UNESCO defines as the ability to identify understand, intercept, create,
communicate and compute using printed and written materials associated with varying
contents. Literacy involves a continuum of learning in enabling individuals to achieve
their goals, to develop their knowledge and potential, thereby fulfilling their ambition
they can participate in their community and wider society.
The global literacy rate for all people ages 15 and above is 86.3% (Wikipedia). The
global literacy rate of all males is 90% and the rate for all females is 82.7%. The rate
varies throughout the world with developed nations habit a rate of 99.2% (Wikipedia
2013). Oceania having 70.2% (Wikipedia 2015) and Sub Saharan African at 64%
(Wikipedia 2015). Over 75% of the world’s 781 million adults are found in South Asia,
West Asia and Sub Saharan Africa and women respondents almost two-thirds of illiterate
adults globally (Wikipedia).
In Canada, participate in the adult literacy and life skills survey. This survey contained
identical measures for assessing the pose and document literacy proficiencies, allowing
for comparisons between results on those measures and found that 41.9% and 42.6% of
Canadians between the ages of 16 and 65 scored at the lowest two levels of prose literacy
and document literacy respectively. The literacy rate in Africa vary significantly between
countries. The highest registered literacy rate in the region is in Equatorial Guinea and
Libya (both 94.2%) while the lowest literacy rate (27%) is in South Sudan (Wikipedia).
Youth literacy rate between the age 15-24 years of India is 89.6% whereas Pakistan, it is
75.6% and it is 89.9% in Nepal (Wikipedia) and this rated is in Bangladesh is 83.2%.
Afganistan has one of the lowest literacy rate of 43.1% and females with a literacy rate is
61.55% (Wikipedia).
In humanities, literature proposes a wide range of definitions for the concept of
“ambitions” as a strong desire to achieve something high or great. According to National
Youth Aspirations Research done in September 2016, the majority of youth surveyed
have ambitions of receiving vocational education. Starting from the age 24, young people
consider their education to be complete. The results of survey have revealed a
considerable number of young people who made rational choice in terms of the motives
underlying the selection of an educational institution. The rationality have can be of at
least two kinds, (a) one conditioned by a focus on the educational content and (b)
conditioned by attempts to facilitate the learning process. The main motives underlying
the choice of a profession were emotionally based. 47.9% of the surveyed state that they
had chosen their profession because “they like it”, “it is interesting” or “they dreamt of
having such a profession” while unemployment have steadily decreased in the UK and
Japan has its own unique set of economic problems to deal with. Another interesting
aspect of employment in Japan that the survey revealed was regarding those with long
term employment (Japan Times 2013). The young people of India put emphasis the need
Page 3 of 13
Journal for Studies in Management and
Planning
Available at https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/
ISSN: 2395-0463
Volume 04
Issue10
October 2018
Available online: https://pen2print.org/index.php/jsmap/ P a g e | 16
for choice and freedom to make decision that would enable them define and fulfill their
aspirations (Wikipedia 2016).
Unemployment rate of Bangladesh is 4.3% (Trading Economics). A research conducted
by the Nielson Company (BD) surveyed 5000 youths between August 20114 and April
2015. According to this study, the major problems of Bangladeshi youths are politically
instability (34%), poor transport system (21%), electricity crisis (15%), inflation (12%),
increasing corruption (9%) and risk of job corruption (9%). The report said, 48% youth’s
age between 25 and 30 did not have any income between April 2014 and April 2015.
Though the future ambitions are based on emotions, lack of opportunities hinders their
ambitions mainly.
3.Methodology
The study is descriptive type. The study area was Maddaham Sonapahar of Mirsharai
upazila in the Chittagong district of Bangladesh. Number of respondents was 224 who
were the students of junior school certificate and above level. Respondents were the
household head of the selected students. Selection of the study sites and number of
students were done purposively. The study conduced between the periods of 5th
September 2016- 30th April, 2017. The study was done as a part of RFST program of the
group A3 and A4, 57the batch, of MBBS degree of the students under the guidance of
Department of Community Medicine, Chittagong Medical College in the Chittagong
district of Bangladesh. A pre tested questionnaires was used to conduct the survey. After
the survey, data were analyzed through frequency and percentage.
4.Discussion
Literacy rate is one of the important indications of development of a community. Future
ambition is closely interlinked with it. The more the community is concerned about their
future, the more they are ambitious.
In this study it is documented that the highest of the respondents (25%) belonged to the
40-45 age group and lowest (1.34%) belonged to the 20-25 age group. Respondents of
above 50 years age group were 14.73%. Respondents of age group (25-30) years were
4.91%, 30-35 years age grouped were 1.39% and 45-50 years age grouped were
119.67%.
Among all the respondents, 89.29% followed Islam as religion, 8.04% followed
Hinduism and 2.68% followed Buddhism. In Bangladesh, 90.4% are Muslim, 8.55% are
Sanatan, 0.6% are Buddhist, 0.45% are Christian and 0.1% are others (Wikipedia).
Majority, 28.57% respondents had secondary level education, 25.90% were of secondary
school certificate level, and 2.68% were graduate and only 0.45% were post graduate. In
this study, 11.61% respondents were illiterate (Table 1). This results show a gradual
increase in literacy rate of the community. In Bangladesh 15+ literacy rate is 61.55%
(Wikipedia).
Majority (Table 2) of the respondents (44.19%) were housewives, 10.71% were farmers.
Others were engaged in occupations look mechanics (0.45%), garments workers (0.89%).
Unemployed respondents were 3.13% while unemployment rate in Bangladesh is 4.30%
(Trading Economics).
It is found from the study that monthly income of 50.45% respondents were > BDT
10000, income of 45.09% respondents were BDT5000-BDT 10000 and only 4.64%
