Despite being slow learners, sheer determination saw these three students come out successful, two of them with 70 per cent marks and the rest with 60 per cent. The DAM in collaboration with Plan Bangladesh was taking efforts to enable all the three to continue their primary education through joyful learning.

Pallabi Rani Das, 11, was a student of Class-5 in Lakshmipur Registered Government Primary School.

A team of DAM workers involved in a survey identified her as a slow learner. They contacted her parents and told them about Camp, a community learning programme designed jointly by the DAM and the Plan Bangladesh to meet special learning needs of the girl by imparting quality primary education. Under the programme community supported learning assistance was provided through Camps (foundation, self-learning and enrichment courses) for primary school going children. Being motivated, her parents involved the child in the special programme. Pallabi was benefitted by the periodic short learning Camps held before/ after school hours. The duration depended on the learning needs of participating children and preparedness of parents to support such Camps.

Rekha, 8, of the same area was another slow learner in Class-2 in the same school. The DAM workers identified her when her parents were thinking to stop her education due to lack of awareness. Because of timely intervention of the DAM, her parents abandoned the idea. Rekha was given additional teaching support before school hours under Sopan tutorial course. The course offered additional education programme for slow learners before or after school hours. It promoted child friendly pedagogy and environment for the improvement of whole school with active participation of community. Pallabi utilised the programme and came out successful in the annual examination.

The story of Sandha Rani, 7, another student of Class-2 in the same school was not different from the above two. Like them, she was also given special teaching support in her school before school hours. Finally, she came out successful honourably in the annual examination.

All the three desires to pursue education.

During a visit to the school recently, two school teachers, Chandra Mohan Roy and Shahidul Islam said to The Daily Star that as many as 220 students of Class-1 and 2 were benefited by the pre-school activities programme launched by the DAM in 2005. Forty-three primary schools were involved with the programme, they said adding, 22 backward students of Clas-3,4 and 5 were also benefited by the programme last year.

The programme is being implemented in three unions of Gazipur district through 20 community learning centres. Rural Development Committees assisted by SMC, school teachers, and Upazila Education Department are conducting the programme.