'100pc school enrolment by 2010 in 3 Satkhira upazilas'
Effort by a local NGO
Our Correspondent, Satkhira
A local NGO has undertaken a laudable programme to improve the quality of primary education and ensure cent per cent enrolment of children in rural schools of three upazilas by 2010. Satkhira Unnayan Sangstha (SUS) has been implementing the five-year programme in Kalaroa, Assassuni and Sadar upazilas since 2004. Stromme Foundation of Norway, an international NGO, is funding the project. It has been aimed at bringing a qualitative change in primary education, ensuring 100 percent enrolment of school children, reduction of school dropouts and making community people aware about improvement of primary education in rural areas. Earlier, SUS conducted a survey in three upazilas to identify the hindrances in bringing a qualitative change in primary education. The survey found that poverty, lack of awareness among guardians and inadequate training of primary school teachers are behind the gloomy picture of primary education. The survey revealed, 55.84 percent of primary students are irregular with a dropout rate of 20.7 percent. Of them, 6.2 per cent children are out of school while 32 percent children have completed primary education but lack knowledge of arithmetic. SUS held group meetings with guardians, school managing committees and members of civil society to create awareness about the need for quality primary education. It trained primary school teachers so that they can impart quality education to children. The NGO also organised seminars and workshops with the participation of guardians, members of school managing committees, members of civil society and government officials so that they can formulate an integrated policy to promote primary education. The NGO has appointed 62 'community teachers' in 40 government primary schools where there had been lack of teachers. It has also set up 25 pre-primary schools at rural areas in the three upazilas where learning can be a fun for children above five years of age. SUS also took up a support programme for adolescent girls (age 11-19 years) including abandoned and school dropout girls. The NGO enrolled 750 adolescent girls in its newly opened 30 centres. Alongside the education programme, SUS also runs a rural micro-finance programme in an integrated manner to achieve the goal.
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