Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK) is a local-level, non-profit development organization working in the Northwest Region of Bangladesh. Since 1992, GBK has worked as an enabling force for vulnerable section of the community. In particular, GBK's work focuses on women, children and indigenous people. We have strong links with National and international organizations, including HEKS - Switzerland, ICCO - Netherlands, PKSF - Bangladesh, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), Nayantara Communications-Bangladesh and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).
JSC Project
Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) Project:
Background:
Thousand of students are completing primary education both from government primary school, from NGO operated school and other education institutions. A significant number of our primary graduated students –especially from the poor families are unable to continue their education after completion of primary education. Instead of admitting in the secondary education, they need to earn money or engage their domestic work for survival. So, they drop out from education. The poor parents are unable to maintain their educational expenditure and lack of parent’s awareness is also a strong reason behind the situation.
GBK is implementing a project titled “Junior Secondary Certificate-JSC” with the financial and technical assistance from Campaign for Popular Education-CAMPE and Bangladesh Open University-BOU. Under the JSC project, the drop out primary graduated students is giving junior secondary education as per curriculum and text of the BOU. Currently GBK is implementing the project through 4 Open and Distance Learning (ODL) centers in Parbatipur Upazila of Dinajpur district.
Broad objective of the project:
Creating low cost and effective education opportunities for the non-formal primary graduated and drop out disadvantage students.
Specific objective of the project:
• Create higher education opportunities for the distressed students
• Expansion of female education
• Developing students through life oriented and income generating courses
• Creating employment opportunities
• Assist long-term and short term education programme of the government
• Creation of low cost education opportunities and
• Developing new education model
Duration of the project:
The project has initially been started for July 2007 to December 2010. During this time, the project participating students will complete their junior secondary education (class-iv to class –viii). Afterwards, they are planned to admit in the secondary course of BOU. This is actually a pilot project with a new idea. A total of 2000 students are studying under this project through 4o ODL centers throughout the country. After successful completion of this phase, the project may be extended on the basis of its success.
Beneficiaries, ODL Center and learner information:
Total 200 NFPE /primary graduated students who are unable to continue their education due to poverty or are dropped out from secondary school are the direct beneficiaries of the project. They are mainly bondage labour, domestic worker, farmers, adolescent girls and boys. However, a group of 32 tutors who are directly involved in the project are also beneficiaries by improving their teaching and technical skills about the project. The student’s parents and guardians, employer and community are also indirect beneficiaries of the project. The project is going on in four Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Centers. Before starting the centers, each of the learners have been provided necessary text books and education materials from the project.
Tutor Recruitment and Training:
In each of the ODL center, 09 Tutors have been recruited on the basis of the specialized subject. The tutors are mostly involved in teaching profession in secondary schools. After having recruitment, they have been given different trainings including basic training and other trainings related to Open and Distance learning and on the syllabus. Experts from Bangladesh Open University and campaign for Popular Education facilitated the training courses. The teachers were also given refreshers training as well. GBK Training and resource Center arrange these trainings.
Community people’s participation in the project:
In the JSC project, people’s participation is an important issue. People’s participation are ensured in different manner. There is a center management Committee in each of the ODL center- consisting of local elites, guardians, employer of the learner and other categories of the community people. However, number of community gatherings is also arranged in each of the ODL center with the participation of guardians, teachers, local elected bodies, journalists and other peoples. During the meeting, people shared their views about the project and express their support and assistance towards the project.
Examination:
There is examination system in each of the school according to the questions prepared and supplied by CAMPE and BOU. Each of the students appeared in the examination and they done very good result.
Annual gathering and Cultural events:
At the end of the year, an annual gathering and cultural even was arranged with the participation of all 4 ODL center’s learners. The learners participated in different events including sports, singing, drawing, and cultural events. After completion of the programme, GBK director given presentations to the winners.