Bangladesh
Context and needs: Over the last 15 years, the Bangladesh government, with the help of financial partners and in collaboration with very active and powerful local NGOs, has made remarkable progress in the area of education: access to primary schools has improved, school 
materials are available and the success rate has increased. The Education for All programme was adopted in Jomtien in 1990. In 1991, legislation was passed making primary education compulsory for all. Resources were increased and huge efforts were made to mobilise support to ensure that children went to school. However, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the quality of education, keep children – especially girls – in school, and allow them to develop the targeted skills. Various programmes for non-formal education have also been put in place. The non-formal education system consists of: early childhood development; the basic education sub-system for 6-14 year olds, which offers children who left school a second chance; a vast literacy programme for those over the age of 15; and a continuing-training programme including post-literacy, the development of basic skills to help provide access to work, and programmes to promote the quality of life. However, the adult literacy rate is still 59% for women and 46% for men, which means the country still faces enormous challenges.
Overall goal of the current programme: The SDC’s 2008-2012 strategy mainly aims to improve governance and narrow the still very wide gap between the rich and the poor, with a growing proportion of the population living in extreme poverty. One priority theme is “work and income”, which aims to promote job opportunities and better income for the poor and the poorest. Basic education is one of the keys to achieving this objective. The SDC focuses its activities in two rural areas. It works in line with the Bangladesh government’s poverty reduction strategy and is guided by the principles of the Paris Declaration. In order to participate in the political dialogue and apply successful approaches on a larger scale, we collaborate with other like-minded financial, bilateral and multilateral partners.
Target group: children, young people (particularly those in rural areas) who have difficulty accessing the job market, and adults (particularly women).
Details: The SDC has supported basic education in Bangladesh since the eightie
s. This has been a priority for many years, as it considers basic education to be essential to development, the sustainable reduction of poverty, and social justice. It concentrates its efforts on providing equal access to education, improving the quality of education and developing basic vocational skills. The focus is on non-formal education, particularly for the most economically and socially underprivileged members of society. It supports the education system through additional education programmes for children who do not have access to a school. Since 2008, it has focused on developing basic vocational skills and access to employment.
Resources: For the 2008-2012 stage:
|
Project |
Partners |
Start of collaboration |
Current stage |
SDC contribution in CHF |
Contributions from other financial partners in US$ | |
|
1. Strengthening the power of Adivashis of Barind Tract |
ASHRAI |
Since 1996 |
January 2009 to December 2011 |
1,600,000 |
||
|
2.Reaching Out-of-School Children (ROSC) |
Ministry of Education Directorate of Primary Education |
Since 2004 |
Phase 2: July 2006 to June 2010 |
6,000,000 |
62,800,000 |
WB, Bangladesh government |
|
3.Skills Development Project |
Ministry of Education, industry and NGOs |
|
Phase 1: June 2008 to 31 May 2013 |
7,550,000 |
66,700,000 |
ADB (soft loan), Bangladesh government |
|
4.Underprivileged Children's Education Programme (UCEP) |
UCEP |
Since 1980 |
December 2007 to November 2010 |
1,250,000 |
Consortium of donors: DFID, DANIDA, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Save the Children | |
|
5.Quality Education for All |
Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) |
Since 1999 |
May 2007 to March 2012 |
7,200,000 |
||
|
6.Basic School & Joint Gender Programme |
Centre for Mass Education in Science (CMSE) |
Since 1996 |
November 2007 to October 2010 |
3,210,000 |
SIDA | |
|
7.BRAC University - Institute of Educational Development (BU-IED) |
BU-IED |
March 2006 to February 2008 |
900,000 |
Royal Netherlands Embassy, Royal Norwegian Embassy | ||
|
8.Post-Literacy and Continuing Education for Human Development - PLCE HD2 |
Bureau of Non Formal Education, Ministry, in partnership with NGO |
Since 2001 |
Phase 2: 2006-2011 |
5,000,000 |
94,700,000 |
Bangladesh government, ADB, DFID |
Achievements so far:
Documents and further information:
| Basic Education in Bangladesh - Partnership Results January 2010 Author: SDC - South Asia Division This Asia Brief informs about the approach developed by SDC to give access to marginalised people and enhance Employability. | |
 |
Download (PDF, 3185 KB): [en] |
Contact person: Tahsinah Ahmed
