Mobile Banking Usage for Secondary School Stipends in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Students in 2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajsde.v3i1.7018Keywords:
Bangladesh Stipend Program, Education Incentives, Gender Equity, Social Welfare, Student AchievementAbstract
This study investigates the operational efficiency and impact of the Secondary School Stipend Program (SSSP) in Bangladesh following its transition to mobile financial services. While the program successfully transitioned from a gender-targeted initiative to a broader social safety net, a critical research gap remains regarding the integrity of beneficiary data and the direct link between financial incentives and academic outcomes. Using a cross-sectional survey of 400 secondary students in Sirajganj and Mymensingh, this research addresses two primary questions: whether stipend receipt correlates with academic rank and how effectively eligibility data is verified in a digital disbursement system. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between stipend receipt and academic performance (p = 0.465), suggesting that financial support alone does not drive achievement. Furthermore, a significant transparency gap was identified: 100% of participants reported a total absence of household data verification. However, the program demonstrated high efficacy in non-academic domains, with 97.3% consistent attendance and 56.1% of beneficiaries reporting reduced household financial pressure. These findings suggest that to enhance policy impact, the SSSP must evolve beyond a disbursement tool into a comprehensive educational framework by institutionalizing digital verification and integrating academic mentoring.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Sadik Hasan Shuvo, MD. Ismail Hossain, Uswatun Mahera Khusi, MD. Mahfuz Haque, Mahzabin Mazhar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
