Visit to Bangladesh

In October half-term Alan Bloomfield and Dr Mohamed Mukadam visited Bangladesh on behalf of the Fair Literacy Campaign.  Their task was to visit organisations, charities and government departments in and around Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, to carry out research and to investigate the work currently being undertaken in education.  The week long programme of visits and meetings was organised and assisted by the British Council.

Bangladesh is one of the most deprived countries of the developing world and the poor have limited access to education.  Alan and Mohammed visited schools and establishments that have been set up by charities including BRAC, a development organisation founded soon after the liberation of Bangladesh; DfID (Department for International Development), the UK government department who promote development and the reduction of poverty; and Islamic Relief, an international relief and development charity.

They also met with Government Ministers and organisations, including representatives from the Ministry of Education; the Directorate of Primary Education; the Primary Teachers Training Institute; and the Principal Government Teacher Training College.

A visit to a Government Primary School was undertaken during the week long visit.  The school had very poor facilities and there were large classes (approximately 60 children). On a show of hands, lots of grade 5 pupils wanted to be teachers, with more girls so than boys. At the school there were no opportunities for any kind of school leadership training and no organisational structure other than the Headteacher and then the rest of the teachers.  A visit to the International School Bangladesh provided quite a contrast to the Government Primary School.  The International School was clearly a school for the children of affluent parents.

Alan and Mohamed also visited Sylhet, a city in North East Bangladesh, which is the home of most Bangladeshi migrants to the United Kingdom.  Here, amongst other activities, they visited a widow's refuge where 50 widows and their children have the chance to rebuild their lives and gain dignity.  The alternative would in most cases be losing their children and having no shelter.

During the week in Dhaka, a seminar organised by the British Council was held.  Local teachers and education professionals were invited to attend and speak to Alan and Mohamed.

The busy week provided a huge amount of information for the Campaign team to look at and consider, and upon which to make future plans.