Displacement due to riverbank Erosion: A threat to education in Bangladesh

Abstract

Riverbank erosion is a recurrent natural hazard in Bangladesh that causes large-scale displacement and poses a serious threat to human capital formation, particularly education. This study investigates the impact of erosion-induced displacement on schooling outcomes in erosion-prone communities along the Jamuna River using a mixed-methods approach. Distinct from existing studies that primarily emphasize income and livelihood losses, this research explicitly links environmental displacement to educational vulnerability. The quantitative findings reveal that 38–42 % of displaced children experienced temporary or permanent school dropout, compared to 18–21 % among non-displaced households. On average, displaced children lost 1.2–1.5 years of schooling, and school attendance declined by nearly 25 % immediately after displacement. Econometric results indicate that displacement significantly reduces years of schooling and attendance even after controlling for household income, parental education, and access to basic services. More frequent displacement further worsens educational outcomes and increases child labor, while early marriage substantially reduces female educational attainment. Larger household size and income instability also constrain educational investment. Qualitative evidence identifies housing loss, repeated relocation, increased child labor, and greater distance to schools as key transmission channels. The findings highlight the importance of integrated disaster management, planned resettlement, and education-continuity policies in erosion-prone and deltaic regions.