1995 figures estimated by UNESCO in 1998.
National Policies and Strategies
National Policies on Literacy
/ Non-formal Education in Latest Policy Document on Education
National Policies on
Literacy / Non-formal Education in Latest Policy Document on
Education
In the words of a recent official report by the Government's
Primary and Mass Education Division (PMED), the non-formal education
(NFE) system caters to:
'Those children who cannot or do not get enrolled in primary
schools, those who drop out of schools, the adolescents who
relapse into illiteracy or those young and adult people who
have never benefited from any schooling'.
The Fifth Five-year Plan (1997-2002) states that:
"The purpose of non-formal education, besides empowering
the learners with skills related to literacy, numeracy and communications
as well as internalizing socio-cultural traits, should extend
to such areas as emotional and physical well-being, self-actualization,
creative and aesthetic expression, basic technological skill
and orientation, entrepreneurial traits and leadership skills."
In one of its strategies,
The Fifth Five-Year Plan refers to the expansion of non-formal
education and the involvement of other agencies, NGOs and private
organizations:
" There will be a multi-directional approach to combat
illiteracy. Non-formal education will be expanded along with
strengthening the Government Mass Literacy Centres, mobilizing
NGOs and utilizing the skill development/income generating efforts
of the agencies outside of the Ministry of Education. NGO and
private organizations will be involved in a bigger way for the
improvement of primary education, which will include setting
up of Ganobidyalas at the village level."The recently approved
National Education Policy 2000 (unofficial translation) articulates
a number of statements that can later on be developed into a
coherent framework on non-formal education. It states that
"...mass education will branch out in two directions in
accordance with the age of the learners and subjects of learning;
adult education and non-formal education."
It further states that:
The aims of adult education are to offer people the skills of
literacy, reading, writing, numeracy; to inspire them with human
virtues and to raise awareness in them about health and the
environment. Non-formal education is complementary to formal
education. Through this the children outside schools and the
dropouts will have access to basic education. They will also
receive some practical skills, which they can apply in real
life situations as and when necessary. NFE graduates can be
enrolled in appropriate classes of the formal schools.
Adult Education will include
literacy, cultivation of awareness and development of professional
skills. Opportunities will be created for all illiterate men
and women of the country giving preference to those between
15-45 years of age.Teachers will be specially trained for the
imparting of adult education. Excepting courses on literacy,
the duration, subject, teaching learning methods, the qualification
of teachers and the learning process of other courses will be
determined by the needs of the local people, availability of
resources, and nature of professional groups. The national committee
on the Curriculum of Mass Education will prepare the curriculum
of appropriate subjects of other branches in view of the needs
of vocational and technical education, health, nutrition, family
welfare, agriculture, forest and environment, fisheries and
livestock.
Opportunities of Continuing Education for literacy participated
in by Government and non-government organizations and civil
societies can remove illiteracy within a short period from the
country. They will apply various methods, materials and processes
and mobilize the target population. So, a realistic campaign
of such nature will be encouraged.Literacy programmes can be
conducted in the distance education method through electronic
media like radio and television.All activities in the area of
mass education will be coordinated. To do this the Directorate
of Non-formal Education will be turned into an institution of
Continuing Education and Skill Development. This organization
will be centrally responsible for conducting the public programme
of mass education and will arrange financing. It will also coordinate
the non-governmental initiatives in mass education.
The roles of various ministries,
departments and national media in the extension of mass education
will be coordinated.Legal framework will
need to be drawn to implement the constitutional commitment
for the extension of mass education and non-formal education."
Current Literacy / Non-formal Education Objectives /Strategies
Bangladesh has a strong national commitment to education with
the State having "a Constitutional obligation of providing
basic education to all its citizens by removing illiteracy within
a given time frame". The Government has further committed
itself to attaining total literacy by the year 2006.
This commitment has been strengthened through the Government
of Bangladesh's engagement in a number of international declarations.
The World Conference on Education for All (Jomtien, 1990) commits
the Government to the overall objectives of achieving the goal
of 'Education for All' (EFA).
1. To increase literacy
rate of adults (15 years and above) to 80 percent by the year
2002
2. To achieve 100% literacy by the year 2006
3. To ensure the optimal use of educational facilities at
all levels
4. To empower learners with technological skill, entrepreneurial
traits and leadership skills
5. To empower learners with skills related to literacy, numeracy,
and communication
6. To reduce gender gap in literacy rate in both rural and
urban areas
7. To develop a continuing education programme for neo-literates
8. To reduce disparity in literacy rates between different
areas
9. To enhance the participation of women in every sphere of
education as well as to reduce the gap between facilities
provided for male and female education
10. To improve management of educational institutions through
involvement of local bodies
To meet these commitments,
the Government of Bangladesh has made, as its major focus, the
eradication of illiteracy through the development of basic education.
Basic education is delivered through two parallel systems, the
formal and the non-formal. Because of the high level of national
commitment, the government has recorded outstanding progress
in education especially in primary and Non-Formal Education.
The Govt. of Bangladesh is running 5 NFE projects through the
Directorate of Non-Formal Education.
Lessons Learned from
Past Literacy Programmes and Activities
1. Centre Management
Committees can play a much larger and stronger role in giving
community-based direction to Non-Formal Education.
2. Upazila/Regional based skills and resources can be used
for NFE.
3. A much stronger monitoring and evaluation system is required
to be improved.
4. Market surveys are important to the degree that they are
consistent with learners' own experience in the selection
of skills to be taught.
5. Learners need to be asked what skills they wish to learn
after they have received good market information.
6. Market saturation may be a planning consideration.
7. Bottom-up implementation seems to be the consistent characteristic
to date of successful examples in the NFE project implementation.
[Updated in August 2001]
