Transcript Early Childhood Education: Its status in Bangladesh - Tdi

M. Nazmul Haq
Professor, University of Dhaka
Bangladesh
Background of ECCE
 Early childhood start from the beginning of
conception and continuing up to age eight.
 But the name and range of early childhood searvice
varies according to different stakeholders
 In line with DFA and EFA goals Bangladesh adopted
the term as Early Childhood Care and Education
(ECCE).
 The issue came into the focus after the submission of
Education Commission Report 2003 and also from the
PRSP document published in 2005.
Background of ECCE (cont.)
 Before the emergence of ECCE there was a baby class
or pre-one grade in large number of primary schools.
 Later on this idea of baby class was accepted by
government as ECCE.
 Government has now authorized some NGOs to
deliver and support ECCE through government and
non-government primary schools.
 The overall scope of ECCE in Bangladesh is limited to
children of 3-5 years of age and is provided through
formal and non-formal primary schools.
Statistics of ECCE
 At present nearly 15% of children aged 3 – 5 years are
attending some form of ECD classes.
 Over 26,000 primary schools have ECD class
 Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA)
run ECD classes through home based learning centers.
 UNICEF support some ECD centers in the remote hill
districts through NGOs.
 More than 150 NGOs operate ECD centers in the
country in fragmented way.
Situation of PPE children in the country (in 000)
Age group
Benchmark
2000
2005
2010
1015
Total ( 3 - 5) 10,193
11,022
10,753
11,682
Boys ( 3 - 5) 5,191
5,614
5,477
5,950
Girls ( 3 - 5) 5,002
5,408
5,276
5,732
If 15% of this children are being served now then what
Would happen for the rest ?
If current rate of implementation of is maintained
then 5.87 million will remain out of the programme ?
Types of ECCE Programme
 Basically there are two types of ECCE programme.
 School based programme
 Community based programme
 School based programme will take care of 5 year old
children.
 Community based programme will take care of 3-5
year old children.
Operational Strategies
 The present early childhood education is now
implemented in the form of baby class or Pre-Primary
Education (PPE).
 The PPE will work under the coordination of MOPME.
 The planning, implementation and monitoring will be
done by DPE.
 The PPE will be implemented by NGOs, CBOs, and
private organizations under direct supervision of
government.
Operational Strategies (cont.)
 It is suggested to maintain a uniform curriculum for all
the PPE classes.
 NCTB would prepare all the learning materials.
 Training to PPE teachers will be provided by
government by involving both government and other
non-government organizations.
Opportunities
 ECCE programme is now focussed by government
 PPE framework is developed and approved by the
government (MOPME)
 Development of curriculum framework for under 3 is
now in progress (MOWCA)
 Large number of NGOs have come forward to
undertake ECCE programme
Challenges
 Only a small portion of 3 – 5 year old children is
considered
 Highly critical age group 0 – 3 is not considered for
ECCE
 Largely poor and disadvantaged community children
are still unsearved
 Lack of community motivation for ECCE
 Following a national standard for ECCE
 Monitoring and supervision of ECCE programme
 Finally, resource mobilization for the programme