Transforming Underprivileged Children into Productive Human Resource: A case study on UCEP, Rajshahi

Abstract

Because of poverty and family disorganization a large number of children between 6-10 years are being deprived of educational right all over the world including Bangladesh In Bangladesh out of total 17,80,000 children 14,880249 are enrolled in Primary schools (GOB 2009-12). UNICEF reported that after ratifying CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child) some least developed countries failed to uphold the child right because of poverty, natural and man made disasters. For fulfilling family needs these under privileged children are being involved in hazardous child labour and illegal activities in lieu of going to schools. According to a survey conducted on street children, about 07 million children are engaged in such hazardous activities in different cities of Bangladesh (Ali-2004:12). About 4,45,226 are working in six divisional cities (GOB: 2005:10). These under privileged children are bound to work for their survival. If non-formal education can be provided to qub these children it may be more effective. Keeping this philosophy in mind some NGO's like Job Underprivileged Children's Educational Programs (UCEP), Basic Education for Hard to Reach Children (BEHRC) and Reach Out of School Children (ROSC) are working in this field. Among them UCEP is a leading and well organised NGO in Bangladesh. In this article an overview of UCEP activities has been made and a case study on UCEP programmes of Rajshahi division have been discussed in brief. Field data have been collected from the UCEP schools and from UCEP official documents. Survey method was followed. However, the article emphasized on the effectiveness of UCEP Programmes in Rajshahi.