Part II.pdf - MTB-MLE Network

Evaluation and documentation
Integral to such a programme outlining innovative plans for mother-tongue literacy programmes is
effective evaluation of both the process and the outcomes. Documentation of the activities
implemented and background to decisions that
are taken will be invaluable as governments
and NGO’s consider the potential for
replicating the projects in other ethnolinguistic
communities. Documentation needs to be
regularly updated and compiled in order for
it to be an effective resource for others. These
reports provide a good foundation for such
ongoing documentation and evaluation.
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Bangladesh
“Action Research on Literacy and Curriculum Development in
the Mother Tongue for the Oraon Community of Northwest
Bangladesh”
Implemented by ASHRAI Bangladesh
1. Background: Socio-economic situation in the country
Bangladesh has a geographical area of 147,570 square kilometres. It has a high average population
density of 775 people per square kilometre, with an annual growth rate of 2.1%. Indigenous people
in Bangladesh are found in the old districts of Rajshahi, Bogura, Rangpur, Dinajpur and Pabna in
the Barind region; Maymansingh, Jamalpur, Sylhet districts of the northwestern border; part of
Tangail district (north central region) and the entire hill tracts of Chittagong. The tribal populations
are not counted separately in the country’s census. Instead, they are counted as part of the minority
community, along with Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. Their numbers are, thus, difficult to
ascertain.
According to the 1991 Bangladesh Census, the size of the indigenous population was 1.2 million
(actual number is 1,205,987) which constituted around 1.13% of the country’s total population.
This was an increase of 3,008,150, or 34.32%, in a decade, or 3.43% per annum from 1981 to
1991. The 1991 census documented 30 groups as indigenous/tribal people in Bangladesh. Other
literature, however, indicates as many as 58 groups of indigenous/tribal people are living in different
parts of Bangladesh. Whatever may be their status in number, it is recognized that besides Bengali,
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