Education Program

People’s People’s Welfare Foundation, in partnership with BRAC, runs its non-formal pre-primary education in the Nangalkot Upazila under the Cumilla district. The program operates a total of sixteen pre-primary schools with over 512 students. The schools used in an inaccessible region in this Upazila. The pre-primary schools were created to reach 40% of school-aged children not enrolled in government schools. Some children lived too far to walk to the existing schools; others had dropped out or never enrolled and were now too old to enter the formal system. The core components of the BRAC school model are that it is free for all, the teacher is a woman from the community, the hours of instruction are flexible and determined by the community, and the curriculum is engaging, including many songs and physical exercise. The school accepts only poor students and usually enrolls more girls than boys. In addition to standard school subjects, the curriculum included life skills, touching on health social issues such as early marriage, and human rights. The school buildings are structurally simple. There is no homework, as school children do not have the time to complete it, and their parents will most likely be unable to assist them. Teachers were closely supported and monitored, receiving regular visits from their program organizers and monthly training. People’s Welfare Foundation helped parent committees to understand and value the students’ education and keep the school accountable to the communities.