| Description of good practice: |
DAM's education programs are conducted mainly through Gonokendra (Community Learning Centres) to ensure continued education for the new literates. These centers are established and managed by the community. Program assistants help children, adolescents and adults to use the learning materials in order to acquire literacy competencies. 1071 Gonokendras have been established.
DAM runs NFE educational programs of 4 years duration from the pre primary up to the primary level for the disadvantaged and excluded groups. Education is provided to all out of school children of the community irrespective of age, gender, income, disability. DAM has 60 Urban Community Learning Centres (UCLC) in Dhaka city, with 1800 children who start at pre primary level and carry on to class eight equivalence of 6 years. Many of the graduates continue on their own for Open University Secondary Certificate. Working children are also provided 6 month skill training at the Vocational Training Institute for working children. Trades such as audio, video, electrical, refrigeration & AC, plumbing, dressmaking etc. can be opted for. They can then be placed in a relevant job as an apprentice.
Observations by UNESCO:
The team visited an Urban Community Centre in Mohammadpur. The school management and teachers reported having 12 children with disabilities(4 physically disabled, 6 visually impaired and 2 hearing impaired children) included in their school. These children were allowed lateral entry in appropriate classes while other children had to start from the pre primary level. Some of the children have been treated to redress their disability and by getting their eyes operated and providing hearing aids through raising Tk. 12,000 from the community and Tk. 17,000 from the donors. While some students have worked or are still working as shop assistants, domestic servants etc. most of the students do not work. Many of them are not using the vocational skills they learn, and may not practice these at all, as they seem to have rather white collar job ambitions.
The centre runs classes from the pre primary to class 8. Six months training and job placement is part of the goal of the institutions. Training is provided in electrical fitting and repair work, refrigeration, air-conditioning and plumbing to the boys.
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