The general objectives of the study were:

• to review and identify common core competencies of the curriculum of both non-formal and formal systems of education in Bangladesh
• to assess the achievement of the identified core-competencies by learners in both non-formal and formal systems of education in Bangladesh and 
• to develop a framework for equivalence of formal primary education and non-formal basic education systems in Bangladesh

Mitra and Associates carried out the following specific tasks:

• examine and analyze different literature/materials available on non-formal education (NFE) and formal education (FE) regarding management, administration, curriculum, curricular materials, teaching-learning process, students’ assessment and evaluation
• collect data, both qualitative and quantitative, on various aspects of physical facilities, academic programs and management of both the systems
• on the basis of the information collected for objectives 1 and 2, identify (through workshop) core competencies common to NFE and FE curricula
• on the basis of the identified and validated (through workshop) core competencies, develop Minimal Learning Continuum (MLC) for both NFE and FE systems
• on the basis of the MLC, develop test instruments to assess the achievements of the identified competencies by both NFE and FE learners
• administer tests and analyze test scores and
• on the basis of the information and data obtained for objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, develop a framework for equivalence of NFE basic and FE primary education systems

The study was jointly sponsored and financed by UNICEF and UNESCO.