• 1.2 million girls in Bangladesh targeted for digital literacy by 2025
• Expansion of Plan International’s Safe Schools Initiative
• Delivery through partnerships with Bangladesh Ministry of Education

Plan International announced the expansion of its Safe Schools Initiative in Bangladesh with the goal of providing digital literacy education to 1.2 million girls by summer 2025. The launch was made public at a Dhaka press event in May 2024, with delivery planned in partnership with the Bangladesh Ministry of Education and several regional NGOs. This marks a substantial increase from the 320,000 girls who completed initial digital literacy training under pilot programmes between 2021 and 2023.

The Safe Schools Initiative is designed to address gender gaps in digital skills, a persistent barrier to Bangladesh’s SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality) progress. UNESCO data from 2023 shows only 18% of Bangladeshi girls aged 10-18 report regular access to digital learning tools. Plan International’s expanded effort aims to close this gap through curriculum-aligned modules in public secondary schools across eight divisions.

Plan International stated that programme delivery will include teacher training, solar-powered computer labs, and gender-sensitive digital safety curricula. The organization is investing $12 million through 2026, with co-funding from UNICEF and the ICT Division of the Government of Bangladesh. While the government has pledged nationwide digital classroom coverage by 2026, independent monitoring of prior pilot phases by BRAC found a 74% technology uptake rate among participating girls, but persistent challenges in rural connectivity and device access.

Skepticism remains regarding scale and sustainability. Local civil society groups have questioned whether planned infrastructure rollout can reach the full 1.2 million target by the 2025 deadline, citing past shortfalls in device distribution and patchy internet access in rural Upazilas. Plan International has committed to annual third-party audits and public reporting on digital literacy outcomes, aiming to distinguish this initiative from past government-led digital education announcements with limited follow-through.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main objective of Plan International’s Safe Schools Initiative in Bangladesh?

The primary aim is to provide digital literacy education to 1.2 million girls across Bangladesh by summer 2025. This initiative is part of a larger push to address gender disparities in technology access and education, supporting both SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Training will be delivered through public secondary schools and focus on both basic computing and digital safety skills.

How will Plan International ensure the programme reaches rural and underserved areas?

Delivery partners include the Bangladesh Ministry of Education and regional NGOs with established rural presence. The programme includes investment in solar-powered computer labs and teacher training for remote Upazilas. Independent monitoring and annual audits are planned to track rural reach and outcomes, though challenges in infrastructure remain significant.

How does this initiative differ from previous government digital education pledges?

Unlike prior announcements, Plan International is committing to transparent annual reporting and third-party audits to track progress towards the 1.2 million-girl target. The initiative combines direct programme delivery with infrastructure investment and ongoing monitoring to avoid pitfalls seen in earlier government-led efforts that failed to reach announced coverage or usage targets.