The public educational system is strongly related to the British model before 1947. The education in primary schools free of charge and about 84% of all school-age children attend school, but there is no compulsory school attendance. However, this number is quite vague. The rate of school enrollment has risen, but also the rate of those who leave school afterwards without graduating.

Thus, the number of students in secondary school drastically decreases to 19%. In higher classes, the number of girls is considerably lower than the number of boys. Generally, there is a lack of teachers, teaching materials and schools. One half of all Bangladeshis aged over 15 are analphabets, even 73% of all women.

Bangladesh has 11 national and 18 private universities. The largest of them is the University of Dhaka. Also located in the capital city is the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, as well as the Jahangirnagar University. Other universities include the Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh, the University of Chittagong and the University of Rajshahi.

As a general rule, many children attend school for only two years, girls often only for one year. Especially in rural regions, the way to secondary schools is often so far and arduous that these cannot be attended at all.