Improving the Primary Education of Bangladesh: An analysis of the “Education Support Program”

At the time when people were enjoying the FIFA world cup 2010 with a theme of “Education for all,” Bangladesh is still struggling to ensure basic education service for its citizens. Since its independence in 1971, the number of schools’ colleges and universities are on the rise, but yet the literacy rate is well below 50% (47.9%). Amid government’s effort to integrate technologies to enhance the quality of education, hardly any considerable steps have been taken to improve the learning environment and the trend of significant student drop outs, especially at the primary level (Grade I to V).

With a reason of finding out the key factors to develop the quality of the primary education level a case study has been analyzed. The informal education project of an NGO in Chittagong is observed to analyze the role of informal education in student enrollment and thus to develop the literacy rate. The “education support program” is designed on the basis of “BRAC informal primary education model” to ensure the access of education for underprivileged by providing technical and financial support. After comparing the objectives, activities, and the method of the program with the situation of government primary education, it is apparent that beside financial factors, the teaching and learning method, distance of schools, relationship of teacher and students, are most important to keep students enrolling in school, which will enhance the literacy rate. Moreover, opportunity for the physically and mentally disable students are not ignored in this particular program. Considering all other factors, inclusive education, using of exploratory language, instituting co operation and improving teachers skills make this program unique which ensure a meaningful prospective of implementing this idea into the government primary education system.

(This is the abstract form of the full paper)