In 2022, educational institutions in Bangladesh were finally permitted to reopen on a permanent basis. Following the previous closures due to the Corona pandemic, students had significant ground to make up. NETZ is assisting children in this catch-up process, focusing particularly on aiding the most disadvantaged students at its project schools.

In addition to the learning content missed due to the pandemic, education experts consider the marriage of young girls, child labor and poorly trained teachers at state schools to be among the greatest challenges in the country‘s education sector. This is exactly where NETZ‘s „Basic Education“ project comes in: The project schools in remote rural areas offer girls and boys regular education where there would otherwise be none. They are also a point of contact and a protected space in the event of problems within the family. Social workers talk to parents to emphasize the value of education for their children. They give tips and support so that the girls and boys are not married off or forced to do housework but can learn at school and develop without being burdened. Dedicated teachers accompany the children on their way to graduation and a better future.

The stepping-stone for the future

Priya Rani is an eleven-year-old who attends fifth grade at the village school in Teghora, along with her classmate Kumar Roy. They’ve been enrolled since the school opened its doors three years ago. Prior to that, neither had experienced kindergarten or elementary school, as such facilities didn’t exist in their area. “Now, I can go to school every day with my friends,” Priya happily notes.

At this village school, students learn subjects such as Bengali, English, social studies, local history, and mathematics. The curriculum also includes child-appropriate science education. Classes are organized into small learning groups of six to seven children, who collectively participate in lessons. Priya and Kumar are the leaders of their respective groups.

“Our teacher is really dedicated and pays attention to every student,” they mention. Beyond the standard subjects, they are also taught dancing, singing, and drawing. Natural history is Priya’s favorite subject. “I’m always learning new things,” she explains. Her ambition is to complete high school and eventually study medicine. Kumar has similar aspirations; he’s keen on becoming a lawyer one day, which is why he finds social studies particularly engaging. “When I grow up, I want to help everyone in Teghora,” he says.

NETZ supports three types of schools

1. model schools for learning with joy: Anandalok schools go from preschool to fifth grade and provide education for 180 children. The village communities take responsibility for the schools.

2. Schools where there is a lack of state provision: village schools offer opportunities for 30 girls and boys each in particularly structurally weak areas.

3. reaching out to the wider community: NETZ improves the quality of public elementary school with integrated preschools. Social workers provide targeted support for the promotion and attendance of children from disadvantaged families.

What we have planned for 2023

We want to serve more than 48,000 children in a total of 395 inclusive education in a total of education – around 8,220 children will be children will be enrolled in school.

NETZ continues to work all schools to ensure that students learning deficits due to the long corona school closures school closures in the long term.