Beyond the Floodwaters: Unraveling the Deep-Rooted Causes of Educational Exclusion in Haor Communities in Bangladesh

Authors

  • Mohammad Fakhrus Salam Department of Political Studies Shahjalal University of Science & Technology Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6135-6786
  • Shimul Gope Department of Political Studies Shahjalal University of Science & Technology Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9696-2259
  • Sharmin Akter Department of Political Studies Shahjalal University of Science & Technology Sylhet-3114, Bangladesh Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2305-4867

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.66050/g2hpng07

Keywords:

flood, Haor, school drop-out, educational marginalization, climate vulnerability, rural education

Abstract

Primary school dropout is an urgent issue in the Haor regions of Bangladesh due to recurrent flooding and socio-economic barriers, leading to educational exclusion. The study aims to highlight the main causes of dropout in Haor villages of Ajmiriganj Upazila, Habiganj District. While progress has been made in providing access to basic education, dropout rates are very high in Haor regions, indicating that structural barriers to basic education are more serious than environmental ones. The study is guided by a theoretical framework that encompasses comprehensive theoretical inputs, such as Social Reproduction Theory and Human Capital Theory. The study adopted a primarily descriptive qualitative research design. Interviews, FGDs, audio recordings, and observations of 350 people (students, guardians, teachers, and school management committee members) in five unions were conducted to gather data. Secondary sources were books, journal articles, official publications, and reputable websites. The results show that the low employment opportunities for guardians, lack of qualified teachers, environmental vulnerability, and early marriage, particularly among girls, are the key factors that lead to school dropouts. Its key policy and practice implications include improving household livelihoods, upgrading school facilities, strengthening teacher recruitment, and holding community-based awareness sessions to reduce the early marriage rate. These are essential strategies to support educational resilience and inclusive development in the Haor regions of Bangladesh.

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Published

2026-05-17

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Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Disaster Risk Management

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Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Fakhrus Salam, Shimul Gope, Sharmin Akter (Author)

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How to Cite

Salam, M. F., Gope, S., & Akter, S. (2026). Beyond the Floodwaters: Unraveling the Deep-Rooted Causes of Educational Exclusion in Haor Communities in Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 8(1), 409-422. https://doi.org/10.66050/g2hpng07

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