An Assessment of the Financial Barriers to Women's Higher Educational Attainment in Alia Madrasah of Bangladesh

Abstract

The advancement of women's higher education in Alia Madrasahs of Bangladesh remains hindered by insufficiently examined financial constraints that emerge from structurally gendered socioeconomic imbalances. This study investigates how financial affordability, including familial resource allocation biases, rural dropouts linked to transport costs, institutional funding gaps, and other constraints, disproportionately limit  women's higher education enrollment in urban, peri-urban, and rural Madrasahs. This research employs a predominantly qualitative approach, supplemented with some quantitative data, to address the financial challenges of women's higher education in Alia Madrasah. Analyzing survey data from 204 students across 9 institutions nationwide and interviews with KII's and the IDI's the research identifies systemic issues: (1) rural students incur higher hidden cost than urban peers; (2) very few accessed need-based scholarships, with no gender-targeted; and (3) a major portion of the families prioritized sons’ education when facing financial strain. The study concludes with policy recommendations, including the development of gender-sensitive financial aid programs and institutional reforms to enhance accessibility.