Bangladesh is way behind in eliminating illiteracy

One in four Bangladeshis is illiterate despite the fact that at least Tk 4,232 crore has been spent by the successive governments since 1991 to wipe out illiteracy.

The non-formal education authorities have completed nine projects in this regard over the last three decades.

Another scheme, which is now underway, has seen 85 per cent progress till June this year.

Officials and education rights activists blame the lack of a comprehensive approach to address the issue, coordination among the project authorities, and poor planning and irregularities in projects for so many people still being illiterate.

Under the projects, non-formal education was provided to primary school dropouts and also to those children who never went to school.

Many of the projects lacked proper planning.

The literacy rate in Bangladesh stood at 35.3 per cent in 1991 among people aged 15 and above.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 76.8 per cent of Bangladeshis aged seven and above are literate. The figure is 74.4 per cent among those aged 15 and above.

The Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE) implemented the nine projects spending Tk 2,912 crore.

It has also spent another Tk 1,320 crore till June this year for implementing the ongoing project titled Out of School Children Programme as Second Chance Education.

The scheme aims to provide non-formal education to nine lakh children who are either school dropouts or have never attended school.

We must admit that many students still remain out of school and primary school dropouts are quite high.

The non-formal education is a backup plan for the formal education and this window should always open, however, the government should emphasise how to run the non-formal education perfectly.

As the allegation against implementing NGOs is high, an inquiry should be in place, fix the loopholes and bring school to the learners living in hard-to-reach and urban poverty pockets.