Non-Formal Primary Education Program (NFPE):
The children schooling program named Non-Formal Primary Education Program in brief NFPE is one of the oldest project run by National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh. This project was introduced with the aim to initiate the education service among the children from poor and marginal households who do not have the privilege to go to formal schools due to proper care and economic constraints. The project is developing school going attitude to both children and parents and helping to understand the value of education. From our close observation it is seen that the parents are now highly motivated to send their children to school as they found that education quality with good quality is the basic requirement to get employment/job. We are grateful that this project is being implemented with the generous financial support of Tokyo YMCA, Japan
Project Goal:
Providing value based education program among the children with the aim to build them as human resource and eradicating the illiteracy from Bangladesh.
Project Objectives:
To attain the project goal project objectives are;
- To create decent learning environment in conducting daily class so that they can access the education with joy;
- To provide minimum literacy for the children of marginal and destitute families;
- To inspire and create enthusiasm among the learners about education and to establish moral, humanitarian, religious, cultural and social values in personal life;
- To ensure that all children receive the educational materials in the beginning of the schooling year.
Project Location:
Non-Formal Primary Education Program (Children Schooling Program) is being implemented as earlier through 7 Local YMCAs affiliated with National Council of YMCAs of Bangladesh. The name of local YMCAs are; (a) Birisiri, (b) Edilpur, (c) Jessore, (d) Gopalgonj, (e) Barisal, (f) Kaligram and (g) Savar located at different parts of Bangladesh.
Student enrolment
The following shows the students’ enrollment in seven individual School run by seven Local YMCAs as of January 2023:
| Name of Local YMCA | Class | Student Enrolled | Total | |
| Boys | Girls | |||
| Birisiri YMCA (Usa) | Class Level II | 16 | 14 | 30 |
| Barisal YMCA (Prothom Alo) | Class Level II | 14 | 16 | 30 |
| Edilpur YMCA | Class Level II | 15 | 15 | 30 |
| Gopalgonj YMCA (Matribhasa) | Class Level II | 17 | 13 | 30 |
| Jessore YMCA (Ongkur) | Class Level II | 16 | 24 | 40 |
| Kaligram YMCA (Surjomukhi) | Class Level II | 14 | 16 | 30 |
| Savar YMCA | Class Level II | 14 | 16 | 30 |
| Total | 106 | 114 | 220 | |
Distribution of Educational materials and school dresses among the enrolled students:
Each school management committee takes the initiative to distribute educational materials and school dress during the first quarter of calendar year. The text books are respectively Bengali, Elementary Mathematics, English, Elementary Science, Social Science and Art published by Education Board under Primary Education Ministry, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Children also receive pencil/pen, eraser and khata which they used in daily classes to perform the assignments given by the class teachers.
Syllabus/Curriculum:
One Teacher of each school used text books (Bengali, Elementary Mathematics, English, Elementary Science, Social Science and Art) to conduct daily classes. Teachers applied appropriate teaching methods in conducting daily classes.
NFPE Project Management:
Each Local YMCA has a Project Committee who is responsible to looks after all the affairs related to project development and implementation. General Secretary of Local YMCAs is the CEO who delegates the responsibility among the staff members under his/her close supervision. So, the management of NFPE project went to the Project Committee. According to the operational perspective one teaching staff is solely responsible to conduct the daily classes following syllabus and text books published by the Primary Education Board, People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Each school is maintaining high attendance rate at the classes. General Secretary of 7 Local YMCAs supervised day to day works of each teacher and put necessary efforts to attain the project goal and objectives. The update reports are being tabled at the meeting of Project Committee of Local YMCAs. Teacher and General Secretary of Local YMCAs shared the monthly report with us on time.
Parents and Teachers Meeting:
Each school arranges at least one parent and teachers meeting in each quarter. The parents of the children attended in this. Teachers share the progress of education, the importance of regular attendance of the children and seek parent’s cooperation to attain the gold and objectives of the project.
Outcomes of the Project:
We can see significant visible changes in the community. The values of education especially among the parents have been increased. Every parent is now put priority to send their children both boys and girls at schooling. They found the negative impact of being illiterate in their personal life. Girl’s school enrolment rate is increasing which is very positive indication. Student dropout rate is decreasing which is also another very positive indication. This schooling program is well accepted by the community people. Parents feel safer sending each school because the schools are closer to their home, children can get school dress, books and stationery items at free of cost. Moreover, teachers are taking much care in conducting classes.