Micro Skills in Bangladesh Secondary Schools
Year 1 Findings – Implementation lessons and early outcomes of school-based life skills pilot programme
About
Bangladesh has expanded access to secondary education, but many adolescents leave school without the practical skills needed for further education, employment and everyday life. The Micro Skills programme aims to address this gap through experience-based learning in career planning, digital learning and safety, social-emotional learning, and green skills.
This working paper examines the programme’s first year across 120 secondary schools, reaching an estimated 16,000 students. Findings show that 82 per cent of students felt better prepared for their future. However, 57 per cent attended four sessions or fewer, highlighting the challenge of sustaining participation. Implementation also varied across schools, pointing to the importance of effective training and teacher support.
The report outlines seven priorities for the next phase: improving attendance; aligning training with implementation; prioritizing Digital Learning and Safety and addressing gender gaps in engagement; reconsidering teacher-subject matching; strengthening professional learning networks; exploring integration into the formal curriculum; and deepening research, including analysis of high-performing schools. These actions can help improve programme delivery and ensure more adolescents develop the practical skills and confidence to navigate future opportunities and challenges.
