Agami - Project Pearabagh Slums


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Project Pearabagh Slums (Dhaka)

Background

Objective

Status

Goals/Challenges

Background

The Government of Bangladesh (GOB) has been taking the initiative to increase the enrolment of children in school, as well as to reduce the dropout rate. However, the poor are still left behind. In an urban situation, like the slums, this problem is inevitable, but also invisible. There simply aren’t enough schools to address the number of children. And, the cost of private schools puts them out of the reach of the poor.

The local sponsor of this project is an NGO called PSD (Program for Sustainable Development). PSD has quite a broad mandate. They strive to improve the dignity and status of the poor community via poverty eradication, education, training and skill development, alternative employment generation, etc.

The Pearabagh slums are in the Maghbazar area of Dhaka . Most of the slum dwellers come to the city from rural areas, in search of employment. They engage themselves from dawn to dusk in menial tasks such as domestic services, street vending, etc, all for very low wages. The children normally receive very little educational guidance.

Objective

The main focus of this project is to provide non-formal basic education to the poor urban children. Given the socio-economic background of the families, non-formal education was the only way we could persuade the parents to enrol their children in a basic education program. An important issue is not to interfere with whatever activities they pursue to earn a livelihood.

Status

PSD had started a volunteer-based education program in 2002. A young educated volunteer teacher was chosen from the PSD organization. Recently, the program was expanded to 110 students, given the influx of funds from Agami, and monthly meetings are conducted with the parents to improve the quality of the education program. The results of these meetings will be noted and compiled into a half-yearly progress report. The reality is that most of the children in the slum remain out of this program due to lack of capacity.

Agami’s funds are being used to provide school supplies (books, writing pads, chalk, slates) for the students, teacher salaries, and rental of a room for the class. Also, in a departure from our normal practice, we are paying for tiffin (meals). This is in recognition of the fact that if the kids are not fed, they will have no will to concentrate on the lessons.

The funds for 2006 were spent in the following fashion:

SL	Item	Unit	Unit Cost	Amount / Year	Total Cost
1	House Rent	1Month	4000.00	12 Months	48,000.00
2	Book for 50 Student	1 Set	500.00	50 Set	25000.00
3	Khata for 50 Student	*1 Set	30.00	600 Set	18,000.00
4	Pencil for 50 Student	1 Pcs	10.00	600 Pcs	6,000.00
5	Chalk	1 Box	10.00	600 Box	6,000.00
6	Slate for 50 Student	1 Pcs	10.00	50 Pcs	500.00
7	Black Board	1 Pcs	300.00	2 Pcs	600.00
8	Teacher Remuneration	1 Month	3000.00	12 Month	36,000.00
10	Tiffin	1 Day	500.00	12 Month	1,44,000.00
11	6 Monthly Report	1 Pcs	2000.00	2 Pcs	4000.00
12	Examination	1	1000.00	4	4000.00
13	Uniform	1 set	200	50 Set	10,000.00
	Total				3,02,100.00

· 1 Set = 4 Khata

· Monetary unit = 1 Bangladesh Taka

In the September 2005 – January 2006 timeframe, 70 students received basic literacy training in Bangla and English, counting and simple calculations. 100% of the students passed their exams.

The staff consisted of 2 teachers, 1 manager, 1 guard and 1 cleaner.

The expenses for May 2007 – April 2008 were expected to be as follows:

SL	Head	Unit	Unit Cost	Amount / Year	Total Cost
1	Book for 50 Student	1 Set	500.00	50 Set	25,000.00
2	Khata for 50 Student	*1 Set	40.00	600 Set	24,000.00
3	Pencil for 50 Student	1 Pcs	10.00	600 Pcs	6,000.00
4	color pencil	1 Box	20.00	300 Box	6,000.00
5	Marker	1 Pcs	50.00	90 Pcs	45,00.00
6	Black Board	1 Pcs	600.00	1 Pcs	600.00
7	Teacher Remuneration (Including art. music and acting	1 Month	7500.00	12 Month	90,000.00
8	Tiffin	1 Day	500.00	12 Month	1,32,000.00
9	6 Monthly Report	1 Pcs	2000.00	2 Pcs	4000.00
10	Examination	1	1000.00	3	3000.00
11	Dress for 50 students		200.00		10,000.00
12	Seminar	1	20000	1	20000.00
13	Study tour	1	10000	1	10000.00
14	Rally	1	5000	1	5000.00
15	Training for teacher		10000		10,000.00
-	Total		-	-