Literacy, Access, and Mobility: Analysis from Sylhet, Bangladesh
Abstract
This study uses data from Sylhet, Bangladesh, to examine the relationship between the distance to school locations and attendance to understand how transport can positively influence school attendance. Logit regression models and a database of 3,402 households were used to correlate household schooling decisions with the built environment, local infrastructure, and household and individual characteristics. Travel demand for school trips was examined to identify how transportation can aid or hinder literacy objectives. Among other findings, two underserved populations were identified: (a) inner-city slum residents and (b) low-income remote households. Two possible transport actions for them are to increase (a) school supply in remote areas to improve accessibility and (b) public investment in affordable bus transit to improve mobility for students who travel to distant school locations. Thus, a combination of economic and transportation policies would likely increase literacy rates and overall educational attainment, which in turn would result in greater future educational equity among Sylhet residents.
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Article first published online: January 1, 2010
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