Dhaka, Nov. 9 -- Bangladesh could avert an economic loss equivalent to 11 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by ensuring that no child drops out of school, according to the latest report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The potential gain could increase to as much as 26 per cent of GDP if all children attained basic skills, the report titled "The Price of Inaction: The Global Private, Fiscal and Social Costs of Children and Youth Not Learning," added.

According to UNESCO, even a 10 per cent reduction in early school leaving and low learning levels could boost Bangladesh's GDP by 1-2 percentage points annually.

The key findings of the report were presented last week at a roundta...