In developing countries, the wide range of students' preparation for schooling can lead to teachers having inaccurate beliefs about their students' academic skills, which can negatively impact the quality of instruction in classrooms and hinder students' learning outcomes. To address this issue, the World Bank, with the support of the Government of Bangladesh, is conducting an impact evaluation aimed at improving teachers' knowledge and students' learning levels. The study includes 2 treatment groups and 1 control group, each consisting of 156 schools, for a total of 468 schools. The schools in the T1 and T2 treatment groups will receive a report card, materials, and instructions immediately after baseline and midline data collection.
This study involved a total of 468 schools across 12 districts, with 20 students in grade 6 randomly selected from each school. The study used a three-stage stratified sampling design and included three experimental groups that were subject to different tests and assessments. The purpose of the study was to identify various factors that influence teachers' beliefs and perceptions about their students' academic performance and overall learning, and to assess the effectiveness of different interventions. The researchers are currently analyzing the results of the study. This work is particularly important in developing nations, where students' preparation for school can vary widely, making it challenging for teachers to understand their students' strengths and weaknesses and to provide high-quality education in the classroom.