Bangladesh
Introduction
Nestled between India and Myanmar, Bangladesh became a nation in 1971 after a bloody war of independence that separated it from Pakistan. The fledgling country has seen its share of natural disasters and famines, as well as political turmoil and military coups, but since 1991, when a system of parliamentary democracy was established, it has experienced relative stability and economic progress. A country of 140 million, Bangladesh has the highest population density in the world excluding a handful of city-states. It is also one of the world's poorest and least developed countries, ranking 147th out of 179 countries in terms of the Human Development Index. At the same time, per capita GDP has more than doubled since 1975.
Moreover, due to an economic growth rate averaging 5 percent since 1990, the poverty rate has fallen by 20 percent.(1) Most of this economic growth has been fueled by industrialization in Dhaka and other urban centers, where the government set up export processing zones (EPZs). These EPZs have benefited from Bangladesh's large labor pool, low wages, and hardworking workforce, successfully attracting significant amounts of foreign investment.
Educational Challenges
The Government of Bangladesh has made primary education a high priority. The Primary Education Compulsory Act of 1990 makes education through grade 5 mandatory and free for all students. In addition, approximately 14 percent of the government's annual budget is allocated toward education.(2) Nonetheless, Bangladesh still faces many educational challenges. It has one of the largest primary education systems in the world, with an estimated 18 million primary school aged children (ages 6 to 10 years).(3) The student to teacher ratio in government primary school is 59:1,(4) which is challenging for students and teachers alike. There is no formal library system for primary and secondary schools, and school hours are limited to four hours a day.(5) As a result of these and other factors, school completion rates and academic achievement remains low. Fifty-six percent of children never enroll in secondary school,(6) and there are almost 9 million illiterate children in Bangladesh.(7) As in many other developing countries, educational access is particularly poor in rural areas, where schools are few and far between and children are expected to work to contribute to family income. This divide is reflected in the differences in literacy rates between rural and urban areas: the adult literacy rate in rural areas is 52 percent, while in urban areas it is 82 percent.(8) Additionally, gender discrimination is deeply entrenched in families and society at large, preventing many girls from attending school and fulfilling their academic potential.
Room to Read's Role
Room to Read successfully registered as an NGO in Bangladesh in July 2008 and hired a Country Director shortly thereafter. Room to Read Bangladesh is currently focused on building a local team to create an organizational and programmatic strategy in the country. Consistent with Room to Read's work in other countries, it is likely that programs will be in rural areas,(9) where the need is generally higher than in urban areas; additionally this is sensible in Bangladesh where 76% of the population lives in rural areas. The team will also explore potential opportunities for partnership with local and national government, non-profit organizations, and communities to establish libraries and girls scholarships.
Programs & Results
In its first year of operations, Room to Read Bangladesh plans to establish 75 libraries and support 200 girls in the Girls' Education Program. In addition to this, the country office will celebrate many operational results, some of these include hiring at least four staff members (Accounts & Finance Manager, Reading Room Program Officer, Girls' Education Program Office, and an Office Associate), establishing an office in Dhaka, and localizing Room to Read policies and procedures.
| Program | Total Thru 2009 | 2010 (Projected) |
|---|
| Libraries Established | 75
| 100 |
| New Local Language Titles | -
| 5
|
| Schools Constructed | - | - |
| Girls' Education Participants | 234
| 234 |
Room to Read Bangladesh - In Detail
| Established | July, 2008 |
| Country Director | Mr. Zaki Hasan |
Number of Employees
(as of 10/2/2010) | 9 |
| Office Location(s) | Dhaka |
| Regional Presence | Sirajganj, Brahmanbaria |
| Key Partners | SHARP (Sirajganj), EC Bangladesh (Brahmanbaria) |