Effectiveness of Government Stipend Program for University Students with Disability in Bangladesh: A Study in Dhaka City

Bangladesh has significantly a large population who are considered as persons with disability. In this regard Bangladesh government has been implemented various support programmes like disability allowance, inclusion mainstream school, educational stipend, and rehabilitation service for persons with disability. The government of Bangladesh has introduced a stipend programme for students with disability intending to ensure universal education for all. Through this program attempt has been taken to mainstreaming student with disabilities. Still now the rate of dropout is much more among the student with disabilities especially in higher education because most of them come from poor family. So, it is necessary to find out the effectiveness of the stipend program among the students with disability in higher education. This study aims to justify the effectiveness of government stipend program among the students with disability. As well as to explore the socio-economic condition of the students with disability who are pursuing higher education; to investigate how stipend program facilitates in education for the students with disability and to consider the impact of this program on the students personal and academic life who are pursuing higher education. The study has followed a mixed method approach (both quantitative and qualitative) of research. Sample survey and key informants’ interview (KIIs) have been applied for primary data collection. This study found that how education stipend programmes effects on their higher education as well as have found some loopholes in providing stipend programmes from the government. Students with disability are expected to increase the amount of stipend in line with the current market price.