MOUSUMI Manjuma Akhtar

Research Areas and Themes

My research interests are focused on education, development, social equity, and social justice, particularly for minority and marginalised communities. I’m also interested in market forces and issues related to school choice in India and Bangladesh. During the COVID-19 lockdown, I focused on government primary school teachers’ remote teaching-learning experience, and students’ remote learning experience in rural areas in Bangladesh. My ongoing research work in India and Bangladesh explores issues of minority identity, socio-economic status, and spatial inequalities that may limit the community’s educational opportunities. I am also examining Muslim women’s higher educational choices and their career aspirations within these contexts. Across my projects, I focus on communities whose education has been disrupted—or entirely excluded—from mainstream opportunities. All my studies aim to adopt a decolonised approach to working with marginalised communities and to influence policies and programs that contribute to economic development and social mobility.

Research Areas and Themes of the Students

If you share an interest in exploring the educational deprivation and injustices faced by minority and disadvantaged communities, I warmly welcome you to join me in this journey of research and advocacy.

Message to Prospective Students

Together, we can use our research to advocate for the educational inclusion and equity of disadvantaged communities. Our research will have the potential to transform the socio-political dynamics of marginalised communities in the Global South. By engaging directly with these communities, we can help reconstruct their political realities—bringing attention to pressing issues and fostering more inclusive and equitable societies.