Campaign For Popular Education (CAMPE) with collaboration GPE’s organized a Discussion Meeting on Education for Out of School Children : How to Mitigate Challenges was held on Thursday 9th May 2024 in the hall of Six Seasons Hotel, Gulshan, Dhaka. The event was presided over by famous fiction writer and emeritus professor of Dhaka University Syed Manjurul Islam.
Abdur Rauf, Program Manager of Campaign For Popular Education (CAMPE), presented the discussion paper at the exchange meeting. He said, despite Bangladesh’s significant achievements in the education sector, the recent report of BBS (2023) showed that last year, about 41% of children, adolescents and youth were out of education. However, the government has already taken the initiative to implement the ‘out of school children education’ project in non-formal education under the ‘Second Chance’ (Jhabparhaf Iyzadhapab Ufpadharrah) program for the education of 10 lakh dropout children. But because these short-term project-based activities lack continuity, this education is often unsustainable and of little use to most students. Therefore it should be included in mainstream program in PEDP-5 plan instead of project wise.
The additional secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, Mr. Nurjahan Khatun, Director General of Non-formal Education Bureau, spoke as honored guests at the meeting. Md. Abul Kalam Azad and Chakma Raja Debashish Roy. The program was conducted by Rasheda K., Executive Director of Campaign For Popular Education (CAMPE). Chowdhury Tapan Kumar Das, Deputy Director of Campaign For Popular Education (CAMPE) gave a welcome speech on the occasion. More than 150 representatives of various classes and professions including students, parents, teachers, officials of related public and private organizations, civil society, researchers from all over the country participated in the exchange meeting and raised their questions and recommendations and the guests answered those questions.
Speakers in the meeting also said that it is very important to allocate additional budget for the education of out-of-school children and adolescents, increase the number and amount of stipends, and introduce mid-day meals universally. Also, 20 percent of the national budget should be allocated only for the education sector. The speakers also emphasized on making technical education more marketable and creating a trained skilled population.
