Third and Fourth Periodic Report on CRC - Unicef

Convention on the Rights of the Child
7.1 Measures taken on the concluding observations
Bangladesh’s success in increasing school enrolment along with closing the gender gap has been one of the
most notable achievements in last 15 years. The enrolment rate has substantially increased, maintaining 97
percent since 2002, for undertaking various measures like awareness programme, introduction of stipend,
school feeding programme etc, the female enrolment rate being slightly higher than male. Rural urban difference
has also reduced substantially. Although commendable progress has been achieved, higher drop out rate <strong>and</strong>
quality of education are still big concerns. The Government is in the process of undertaking different measures
to improve the situation.
The budget allocation for education has been increasing over the recent years. The State Party with the
assistance of UNICEF has implemented Intensive District Approach to Education for All (IDEAL) Project, <strong>and</strong>
later on Primary Education Development Programme (PEDP) with a view to improve quality of education
through a wide range of intervention, <strong>and</strong> most recently through emphasizing Life Skills Based Education
(LSBE).Some other projects <strong>and</strong> measures were undertaken. A total of 35,000 teachers are being recruited
nationally by 2007, training programmes are being exp<strong>and</strong>ed <strong>and</strong> new facilities created.
For increasing families’ knowledge <strong>and</strong> awareness about early childhood development, the State Party
implemented the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project. The capacity of the teachers/stakeholders were
attempted to enhance for rendering quality education as well as creating child-friendly environment in the
schools. With the support of NGOs/CBOs, the State Party is extending services related to parenting education
<strong>and</strong> education for care givers through different programmes across the country. Overall monitoring of
educational activities has been strengthened.
The age of compulsory education is still as before. However, the age/grade for educational support (mainly in
the form of stipend for girl students) <strong>and</strong> some other facilities have been increased. The State Party has
established a Bureau of Non-formal Education in April 2005 <strong>and</strong> a Non-government Teachers’ Registration <strong>and</strong>
Certification Authority (NTRCA), <strong>and</strong> inclusion of teachers’ training component in NRTCA is underway.
Madrasah education is being gradually improved <strong>and</strong> streamlined.
New programmes for sanitation at schools have been undertaken; curriculum/syllabus suiting child <strong>and</strong>
adolescent healthcare are being revised for introduction from next session. And a step towards introducing
school books on tribal children’s own language, two book for Grade-I students are already prepared in Murma
<strong>and</strong> Bom languages. Those would be introduced in the B<strong>and</strong>arban hill district from 2008 academic session on
a pilot basis. This is a follow up action after Government’s decision to introducing mother languages of the tribal
as medium of instruction for the schools in phases.
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