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).
ROSC Project
Reaching Out of School Children-ROSC Project
Background:
Gram Bikash Kendra is implementing number of project on education for the poor, disadvantage and destitute communities with the assistance from different supporting agencies. Reaching Out of School Children-ROSC project is one of the project supported by the department of primary and mass education of the government of Bangladesh. GBK is implementing this project in Parpatipur Upazila of Dinajpur diostrict through 22 “Anada” schools.
Gaol of the project:
Creating Education Opportuinities for the Out of school Children.
Overall Objective of the project:
• To incorporate 5 lac out of school children in the primary education
• Extension of women education
• Increase quality of education and capacity of the concerned educational institutions
Approach:
This project follows community participation approach. The Anada schools are established through direct participation of the local community people and the government. The community people also are being skilled to manage school and child education through this project.
Beneficiaries:
The poor and destatitue children who’s basic education is very week and wgho are the first learner of their families are the beneficiaries of this project.
Activities Acccomplished:
Teacher Training and refresher:
There is one female teacher recruited in each of the Ananda School from the respective community. The entire teachers have been provided a 11 days long foundation training at Parbatipur. The training was facilitated by TMSS Bogra (another partner of the same project) and also supervised by the education officials. Alongside the training, a refreshers course was also arraged for the teachers where the main issues discussed are-problems of choll operation, techniques for weak student teaching, increasing student’s attendance, increasing quality of education and others.
People’s participation in the project:
Community people are the key stakeholder of this project. Their participation in the project are ensured in many ways. There are Center management Committee (CMC) in each school consisting of local elites, guardians, local government representatives and other categories of people. The CMC members are provided training on goal, objective of the project, their role and responsibiolities in the project, budget allocation and process for expenditure, bank account operation etc. Also number of CMC and guardian meetins is held in the project. The main issue discussed in the meetings are- project goal, objectives, role f parent/guardians in sending their children to school, progress of the students, student stipend, cleanliness and other issues.
Examination:
During and at the end of education year, each of the students appears at the examination through the questions supplied from the Upazila education office.
Supervision and Monitoring:
One Education Supervisor is responsible for overall supervison and monitoring of the school activities. He also communicates with education office; assist the teacher and CMC in banking ofr the school expenditure. He regular visit each of the schools and provide necessary assistance in regards to increasing student’s attendance, increasing quality of teaching and community issues. According to the monitoring reports he produced, the minimum attendance of students is 78 and maximum is 96.
Strength of the project:
• Teacher’s Commitment,dedications and passions
• Learning atmosphere of the schools
• Hoe works for the students
• Extra assistance and support for the weak students
• Good and friendly relation among teacher and students
• Student stipend
• Schools are situated in the same viallge and are very close to the students
Conclusion:
The ROSC project is going on very well. However, use of different education materials including flipchart, posters, and co-currilum materials is essential for betterment of the results.