Children Education Program through Community Mobilization (CEPCM) at char area of Narsingdi district

Raipura is a river basin char area of Narsingdi district where some of its main portion is isolated from main land called char area which is undeveloped compare to other part of Raipura which reflects mainly on education especially on primary education. The literacy rate of Raipura upazila is 40.05% and this is the lowest rate out of each six upazila in Narsingdi district (Source: Census report of 2011) as Raipura upazila is having 06 char unions. Paratoli union is one of char union under Raipura upazila and having several government primary schools, Kindergarten, Madrasha but children enrollment rate is very poor. Every government primary school, kindergarten and Madrasha has a School Management Committee but most cases SMC are not active, teachers are not performing as it should be; local govt. institution is making poor concentration on that matter. Parents are showing less attention about their children education and some parents reluctant to send their children in school due to unconsciousness and unaware.(Source : Midterm evaluation of ECEPF project) Though government interferences are there but lack of community awareness child enrollment still poor than other part of Raipura. Here one big problem is that a good number of children who usually missed out from child survey due to careless of SMC. Even due to unconsciousness of community people are helping to boost up drop out children from school before completed their education. Behind the situation, the biggest cause is that SMC’s are showing less attention regarding school and school teachers. Although, there are supposed to be access for all children to Government primary schools. Though some intervention including govt. primary schools are there in Paratoly but the present situation says that the condition of children education is in under crucial. PAPRI worked in Bashgari and Mirzarchar isolated char unions of Raipura upazila through different development interventions say adolescent functional education program, child education program and so on and in this connection PAPRI has been gathering experience on char areas since 2006 in order to ensure all children's in education under primary level through giving support to poor children such as; center base coaching facility, education materials distribution and providing stipend facility. At the same time PAPRI has come to know the present problem including latent needs of char people. Gathering experiences from previous activity PAPRI changes program designed as community mobilization instead of direct supports to stakeholders. Under all above circumstances, PAPRI has taken CEPCM project in Paratoly. Goal: All targeted children are under the primary education without repetition. Purpose: All targeted children are regularly learning at primary school, even repeating in a year. Beneficiaries/Target Group: All school aged children (12 Schools) Direct- dropout students 243 & Not admitted children-313, Total=556 children. Indirect- 4829 students of pre-primary to class-five in twelve schools. Outcomes: 1. This year all schools (12 GPS) organized SMC meeting by their own initiatives and have taken necessary decisions for school. Now, SMC members are taking some initiatives such as monitor teachers, check attendance of students and organize SMC meeting. 2. To meet up teacher shortage at schools, Para teachers are recruited by SMC to continue classes. 3. 2 SMC orientations held for new SMC members in this year. 4. 20 village meetings with 353 participants and 42 group discussion meetings with 375 participants were held in this year 5. 227 irregular students have become regular out of 270 irregular students. SMC, school teacher and project staffs are emphasized on reducing irregularities from each school 6. Enrollment rate has been increased than the previous year. (Enrollment rate was 76% in 2015, 87% was in 2016, 99% was in 2018 and this year 99% also). 7. During children admission in school, teachers are collecting birth certificates from the guardian. Birth certificate rate has been increased gradually. 2015-57%, 2016-62%. 2017-84% and 2018-95 8. AUEO participated in a mothers’ meeting and proposed to mothers to ensure Tiffin box for class five students (81 students). Then, 18 guardians provided 1400/- (One thousand four hundred) taka in cash to school for purchasing Tiffin box. 9. All school (12 GPS) organized annual sports in this Year and AUEO of Raipura upazila Ms. Rebeka Sultana took participation in two school sports program where local elite, UP also come up with contribution and cooperation. In this regard, some are as follows: • Chairman of Sonabalua GPS Mr. Saiod hossain contributed 5000 taka to school for annual sports. • Acting head teacher of Madhyanagar madhyapara GPS Mr. Keramot Ali contributed 1000 taka to buy annual sports prizes. • Elite persons of Kacharikandi uttarpara Makbul hossain, husband of SMC member Beauty begum provided prizes for teachers by taka 2000/- • Elite person of Paratoly GPS, Mr. Abul Hossain provided 3500 taka to school for purchasing prizes of annual sports. • UP Education standing committee member Ms. Maleka begum participated with 12 pieces plate in annual sports at Singrapur GPS. • SMC chairman provided 05 pieces umbrella for school teachers. • SMC member of Singrapur contributed with 500 taka for Singrapur annual sports • UP education standing committee member Mr. Mojibur Rahman gave 500 taka to Singrapur GPS for organizing annual sports at school. 10. UP administration including local elite persons have come up with positive attitude towards children education. Through SMC,UP and local elites contribution a lot of school activities are performed during the reporting year as follows:  At Azizpur GPS SMC and local elite persons ensure school field hole filling by taka 1,50,000  Getting information from the SMC orientation about SLIP (School Level Improvement Project) fund, instantly Singrapur SMC organized SMC meeting and discussed about SLIP fund. Finally they used that amount in school development work. Such as: Tube well repairing, chair making etc.  SMC chairman Mr. Saiod hossain provided a sub meter by taka 1250 to school.  At Azizpur GPS, by the initiative of SMC about 25 feet wall is prepared beyond of the school by the land owner. Now school is safe from bad smell (Cow dung). Learning's • SMC’s activeness in School ensure certain development for GPS • UP engagement is very positive for ensuring good school activities Challenges: • Regular class in all school • Students at risk at dropping out • Active Role Playing of UP Education Standing Committee • Active participation by SMC in school activities • All student Appearance in Terminal Examination