Working Children of Hard-to-Reach Schools in Dhaka

Out of our population of around 15 crore, nearly 4 crore 24 lakh are children aged 5-17 years. 74 lakh of these children are engaged in earning their own living, out of which 15 lakh are working in urban areas. Of the types of work they are engaged in, many are hazardous, though Bangladesh has ratified both the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990 and the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in 2001. A large number of the working children are engaged as domestic help, of whom three-fourths are girls. They work long hours for 7 days a week. Most of these working children have never attended school.
The government has vowed to take all children to school by 2011, which is unlikely to happen considering the lack of initiatives that ay have been taken thus far. However, it is a tradition in our politics to make a promise in order to break it. The two initiatives that the government has taken in order to bring all children to school are the ROSC (Reaching Out Of School Children) Project and the BEHTRUWC (Basic Education for Hard to Reach Urban Working Children) Project. The latter has been launched by the Bureau of Non Formal Education (NFE) for 2006- 2011 with support from UNICEF, Canadian CIDA and Swedish SIDA. The objective is to provide 120,000 urban working girls and 80,000 urban working boys aged 10-14 years with 40 months long basic education course. This project is now in 6 City Corporations run by 20 national NGOs with 6,664 teachers through 6,646 learning centers.
Whether the future of this project is rosy or grey should be found out through a journalistic investigation that probes both its top and ground levels. Here we can get glimpses of it from the words of some learners from the learning centers in Dhaka. They were gathered at the Bureau of Non Formal Education on 11 June in order to observe the World Day Against Child Labour 2009, which is observed every year on June 12. About 40 children who were selected on the criteria of being more advanced in terms of their maturiy and vocal than others took part in a sharing session with officials from Hard-to-Reach, NFE (Bureau of Non Formal Education) and UNICEF.
Most were happy to see a glimpse of hope in their lives through this project. At the same time many voiced their disappointment and demanded something more and better. Shahnaz Akter (13) said, 'We come to a learning centre from a long distance. Now, it will be helpful if each of us is given a school bag. Again, it takes a major share of our study time to sharpen the pencils that are given to us. We thought that our teachers did not want to give us the quality things. Now I see it is you who are at fault for not providing us with quality education materials. So please give us school bags and quality pencils, which will help us to attain good education.'
Another boy said they did not want airplanes, but would like to have at-least some food at school. Hard-to-Reach provides education up to Class V. But these children want to study more. There are problems that the mainstream schools do not want to accept them when they complete their cycles at Hard-to-Reach schools. Najma Akter (13) said that students of other schools consider them inferior and do not treat them well. Selina (14) said, 'You have made schools only for primary education for us, why not schools for higher grades and colleges too? Quality of these schools should be improved so that children become interested in coming here.'
Some children said that birth registration is a right of every child which many are deprived of; many voiced their concern about child marriage that brings hope for education to an abrupt end. One girl said that education is a right of every child in the country and voiced her concern, 'Are other working children of the country getting a chance to go to school?' All know that the answer is outright negative and may remain so for many years to come. There might be some light glittering, however faintly, at the end of the tunnel in the words of such a child, 'Those of us who are good at reading and writing can teach other working children and thus help spread education across the country.'
It would have been better if elders also had learnt from them. The coming education policy will do enormous good by taking into account the concerns of the working children all over the country.

Sound Pollution: The Menace and Its Probable Solution

Md. Masum Billah

The present civilization leads us to sophisticated ways of living but at the cost of some health hazards. The ongoing march of the modern civilization contributes to increasing sound pollution. In the wilderness, a typical sound level would be 35 decibels. Speech runs 65 to 70 decibels, heavy traffic generates 90 decibels. By 140 decibels, sound becomes painful to the human ear, but ill-effects, including hearing loss, set in at much lower levels. Most noise pollution is caused by machines, especially automobiles, trucks and aircraft. Construction equipment, farm machines, and the din of machinery inside factories can be dangerously loud. Some home appliances, shop tools, lawnmowers and leaf blowers can also be noisy as are guns, firecrackers and some toys. Even music when played at very high volume, particularly through personal headphones is as damaging to the ears as a roaring chain saw. Hearing loss can also occur in the workplace, where individuals may be unable to avoid loud sounds and where exposure may continue for years. Factory workers, construction workers, farmers, military personnel, police officers, firefighters and musicians all have reason to be concerned about their occupational exposure to noise. The most significant health problem caused by noise pollution is hearing loss. Any noise appreciably louder than talking can damage the delicate hair cells in the cochlea, the structure in the inner ear that converts sound waves into auditory nerve signals. The initial damage to the cochlea may be temporary, but with repeated exposure, the damage becomes permanent. Loud noise deafens quickly-extremely loud sounds, such as gunshots at close range, can cause immediate hearing loss. But even sound levels of only 85 decibels will cause some hearing loss after prolonged exposure. Damage to the ear can also cause tinnitus. In the industrialized nations, governments have laws and police to counter noise pollution. In the United States at least six federal agencies are involved in controlling noise pollution. Since 1969 the Federal Aviation Administration has monitored and controlled noise from airplanes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration are charged with reducing noise in workplaces. In 1972 Congress passed a Noise Control Act establishing an Office of Noise Abatement and Control in the Environmental Protection Agency. The Office conducted research, coordinated the work of other agencies, and directly set noise standards for trucks, motorcycles, air compressors, truck-mounted garbage compactors and railroads. More standards would have followed but in 1981 Congress cut off funding for this effort. In developing countries too, some measures have been taken. Recently the Sri Lankan Central Environmental Authority drafted plans to curb community sound pollution because it is considered a serious health hazard. Judging from articles and letters published in Sinhalese newspapers, many people who are disturbed by loudspeaker noise are looking forward to this plan to taking effect. The authors of the letters and articles complain about a variety of loud sounds produced by the loudspeakers of religious institutions. Noise pollution happens due to rampant use of loudspeakers. Religious institutions of any kind, all attempting to assert their importance over others, are known to be noisy-a famous German statesman once remarked the church bells are the artillery of the Christian clergy. The Buddhist newcomers though, having learned the original Buddhist teachings, expect Buddhist monasteries to be very quiet places but reality is often otherwise. The deliberate sound pollution caused by Buddhists appear to be in strict contradiction to the Buddhist' own examples and teachings. There are many instances in the Buddhist scriptures that indicate Buddha and his disciples were lovers of quiet and peace. The loudspeaker was only invented in the 20th century and there is no indication that Buddhists' faith has been strengthened because of its use. On the contrary, making loud noise is antithetical to their faith. It does not lead to inspiring faith in those who have no faith and to the increase in those who have faith, which are the reasons for the Buddha laying down disciplinary rules. The Muslims also invite the devotees to mosque through 'azaan'. The city of Dhaka sees a mosque in every nook and corner. Five times a day the mosques invite devotees through loud microphones and speakers. Sometimes it seems unnecessary to invite so loudly as the invitation is heard from several mosques at a time. In this case, each mosque can invite the devotees without using so many speakers/mics. One or two is enough. All the mosques can announce the azaan within five or ten minutes. In Egypt it has been done. What happens now is that hundreds of mosques seemingly continue announcing azaans for more than half an hour. The devotees who are engaged in 'tablig' don't use mike or speakers for the invitation. They hold the idea that during the advent of Islam, as 'azaan' was performed orally, now the same situation will continue. It has a merit. Ours is Muslim majority country and religion is very much a sensitive issue. Any decision regarding religious issues may invite severe reaction. This is why no government takes any decision. In this regard, the religious thinkers and researchers may give some decision considering the fact that a very small area of Dhaka city has been too densely populated contributing to serious sound pollution. Many of these cannot be minimized let alone stopped. But some religious ways can be rethought particularly the points which contribute to health problem. When many mosques announce 'azan' through huge loud speakers, it happens not in one or two mosques, hundreds of mosques the sound is huge volume the heart patients and children living close to the mosques become greatly affected. Muazzins (inviters) can do it without getting so close to the mike. Some mosques announce 'azan' with smooth and melodious sound. Whereas, some mosques announce it with shrill sound. The religious scholars may give a reasonable and tangible solution to it. The Hindu religious festivals also create serious pollution. The original religious rituals may not have any connection with it. The religious leaders and researchers should give a serious thought to the point and help develop a sound pollution free society. The use of loudspeakers in the public meetings, announcement and social functions must be seriously controlled very effectively .by the state machinery. The hydraulic horns must be banned and films and short films reflecting the menace caused by loud sound should be shown everywhere so that people can become really conscious of the menace. (The writer is Senior Manager, BRAC Education Programme)

NAM Summit at Egypts

The 15th summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) begins at Egypt's Sharm El Sheikh, a seafront resort overlooking the Red Sea. Around 60 heads of state and government are expected to attend the NAM Summit being held this time with the theme 'International Solidarity for Peace and Development', suiting the present times of strife in different corners of the world. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is already in Cairo to attend the summit.
About 110 countries will be represented at the meet that focuses on economic, development and social issues confronting the 118 member-nations as well as the world community as a whole. Egypt is hosting the NAM Summit for the second time after 1964. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will take over the rotating chair from Cuban leader Raul Castro at the inaugural session of the summit at Maritim Congress Center today. UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon will address the opening session. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasian also will make a statement at the summit.
The NAM was launched in 1961 by Egypt's President Jemal Abdul Naser, India's Prime Minister Jawaherlal Nehru, Yugoslovia's President Josheph Tito and Indonesa's Presdident Ahmed Shukorno along with some other leaders to voice the hopes and aspiration of the developing and poor countries of the 'Third World' at a time when the socialist block led by Soviet Russia and the capitalist free world led by United States of America were locked in the bitter cold war. Since its inception NAM tried to maintain equi-distance from the two blocks led by the two super powers and advance the political and economic causes of the nations of Asia, Africa and Latin America and contributed spectacularly to the emergence of a good number of independent states from colonial rule. NAM achieved significant success in the developing nations' struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, fascism, racism, hegemonism and economic exploitation.
Now that the cold war is a matter of the past following the collapse of socialist block, the relevance of non-aligned movement has largely reduced, but not disappeared because of the fact that the dominance of the north on the south still persists, the economic exploitation of the developing nations still continues and some Asian and African countries have been turned into centres of armed conflicts and growing tension. The Palestinians are yet to get their independent homeland with Jerusalem as its capital, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are yet to be freed from foreign subjugation. The need to speak in a single voice on these as well as other vital issues such as the global recession and climate change has, rather, made it most imperative to strengthen the NAM.
Alive to this prime necessity, the NAM members are set to discuss current global issues from recession to climate change and put forward suggestions and recommendations. The summit is expected to adopt two documents--the Final Document outlining the common position on various issues and the Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration focusing on the development of the group. It is hoped that through this summit the NAM will grow stronger and its quest for peace, progress, and development as well as solidarity against global threats and challenges will get momentum.

Unemployment Problem in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is beset with numerous serious problems and unemployment is one of those. The country's unemployment scenario is very alarming as 15 million, of the total estimated workforce of 70 million, remain unemployed posing a threat to the economy and causing a national concern. This unfortunate situation has resulted from the lack of adequate employment opportunities at home and the country's failure to avail itself of the opportunity for securing their jobs abroad as most of them are unskilled. In the present day world, manpower is considered everywhere as precious national assets, but it is disappointing that we are unable to utilise properly our human resources.
Ours is a poor country with limited resources and naturally unable to meet the basic needs of the people. It is not difficult to understand that these huge jobless people are passing days in dire hardship and contributing to the social instability. They are considered as a burden not on themselves and their families alone, but also on the nation which is deprived of their services. However, the jobless people themselves are not exclusively responsible for this dismal situation, because adequate employment opportunities are not there for them to be engaged in works.
Instead of being expanded, the employment opportunities have, rather, shrunk in the country in recent years due to political uncertainty, economic slowdown and fall in both foreign and domestic investments. New industries are not being set up as investors are reluctant to make further investments before the political climate and security situation improve and economic crisis ends. Besides, many agricultural labourers also have been rendered jobless in the wake of repeated floods, river erosion and natural calamity like Sidr.
Unemployment situation would have been eased to some extent had it been possible to send more and more manpower abroad with jobs. But that has not been possible for different reasons including lack of adequate initiatives by Bangladesh missions abroad and unfavourable labour policies of several manpower importing countries. Several countries have reduced appointments of foreign workers in the wake of global recession. As a result the scope for Bangladeshi job seekers' employment abroad has shrunk considerably.
Against the backdrop of skyrocketing of the prices of essentials, the massive unemployment is causing dreadful economic hardship among the people concerned while even the employed ones too are finding it very difficult to cope with the situation. In the words of Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen ' Poverty means not scarcity of essentials, but lack of capacity to purchase those'. This lack of purchasing power of the people, specially those who are jobless, constitutes the gravest part of the economic crisis the nation is plunged in.
Under these circumstances, the prime need of the hour is to take necessary measures for large scale employment generation through revitalising the industrial sector by promoting local and foreign investments. Alongside, no stone should be left unturned to boost manpower exports to foreign countries. Meanwhile, as a welfare step, the government may grant subsistence allowance for the unemployed people besides encouraging the banks to advance loans to them for starting business activities to ensure their self -employment. It may be mentioned here that the government move to provide jobs for at least one educated person of each family is a timely step in the right direction and it should be implemented with utmost sincerity. The sooner this scheme can be implemented, the better.

Protect the Royal Bengal Tiger of Sundarban

The Royal Bengal Tiger, celebrated in folklore for so long as the ruler of our Sundarbans, has for long been facing a traditional existential threat in the form of poachers. All surveys done in recent times have pointed to the decreasing tiger population in our part of the Sundarbans. As if that was not enough, reports now suggest it is also facing a threat to its existence in the form of climate change, which it seems is not wont to letting anything pass in its effort to awaken humanity to the damage wreaked on the planet by man's excesses.
The Royal Bengal Tiger is one of the things we as Bangladeshis can be most proud of. Its regal stature in the animal kingdom is accepted by experts, enthusiasts and laymen alike. One of the most alarming surveys done in recent times on the state of the Tiger, in 2004, estimated that only 419 Royal Bengals remain in the wild. That itself is a worrying figure, but even more worrying is that many people estimated the real remaining population in the wild to be even lower. Often we hear of this celebrated animal being butchered to death by the village-dwellers of our south-western areas when the animals stray within the vicinity of these villagers. This is very disappointing, especially because experts believe these deaths could be avoided if only the villagers were better informed by the officials on the correct way to deal with these tigers when they stray too close to the villagers.
Climate change has now been pinpointed as a reason for the tigers straying more frequently, as a growing 'prey crisis' brought about by populations of traditional tiger prey (such as wild boar and deer) dwindling due to forest floors being inundated is forcing the Royal Bengal to leave its wild habitat in search of food. In some cases, the Tiger is also straying into the periphery of the forest or beyond during its search for new habitat, after a cyclone or storm surge might destroy its old habitat.
Whatever may be the reason, and make no mistake, action will have to be taken in this regard as well (perhaps introducing more deer, wild board to replace the affected populations is an option), the inaction of the forest department officials in this regard, especially in keeping the villagers informed and also making them feel protected is gravely regretted. We hope the government will accord the matter immediate attention, for the Royal Bengal Tiger is not only a matter of great pride for us, it is also vital to maintaining the ecological balance in the Sundarbans. And in the face of so many threats, time is very quickly running out for it.

Draft Policy Suggests 8 Years Primary Schooling

The committee for formulation of a national education policy, in a draft report, has recommended raising the nation's mandatory primary education period to eight years from five.
Co-chairman of the committee Khaliquzzaman Ahmad told on Sunday, "The members [of the 18-member committee] have been asked for their opinions on the draft by July 15 and then it will be opened for different professionals to view it before preparing a final report." If the draft is approved, students will attend school up to class eight, instead of the current requirement up to class five, as their primary education. The draft says the primary education duration will be extended up to class six by 2012, to class seven by 2015 and to class eight by 2018. To successfully implement the primary education changes in all existing disciplines, including government, non-government, kindergarten and religious schools, the draft recommends boosting the existing primary school infrastructure across the country, increasing the number of teachers and providing essential funding. It also recommends changes in the primary education curriculum, with compulsory study in Bangla, moral education, Bangladesh studies, mathematics, climate change, science and IT, among other subjects. Different disciplines will also be able to include their own study programme with the accompanying compulsory studies. Further, English medium schools will be able to operate, but they will require government approval, the draft says. English language will be taught in class one and two as extra courses and become compulsory in class three and onward. There will also be compulsory religion and moral studies offered to students from class three. The last three classes of primary education, six, seven and eight, will teach vocational and IT studies so those students who will not further pursue education will learn job skills. The draft also calls for public examinations on completion of class eight studies, prior to acceptance into secondary education. Education minister Nurul Islam Nahid, announcing the committee headed by national professor Kabir Chowdhury on April 8, tasked with forming 'National Education Policy 2009', said the government was seeking to introduce a unified and modern education system in the country. Initially the committee had 16 members, including eminent writer and science teacher Muhammad Zafar Iqbal and economist Kazi Kholiquzzaman. Later, two other members were added to the committee.