Non-Formal Primary Education Program

Objectives

The objectives of non-formal primary education aim to provide quality education to children who cannot attend formal schools.

  1. Providing foundational literacy and numeracy skills: To teach basic reading, writing, and numeracy skills to children who are unable to attend formal schools.
  2.  Promoting lifelong learning: To instill a love for learning and encourage a desire for continuous learning throughout one’s life.
  3. Developing life skills: To develop life skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, health awareness,communication, and social skills.
  4. Empowering marginalized communities: To provide access to education for marginalized communities such as girls, and children living in poverty, to empower them and improve their social and economic status.
  5. Fostering social cohesion: To promote social cohesion by bringing together learners from diverse backgrounds and fostering respect for diversity and inclusion.
  6. Increase children’s enrollment in mainstream education: To increase their enrollment in formal education by stepping up their learning capacity and reducing the dropout risk.

About NFPE

Manabik Shahajya Sangstha’s (MSS) Upanusthanik Sikhaloy
(উপানুষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষালয়) or Non-formal primary education (NFPE) is an
educational program that provides learning opportunities for
children outside the formal school system. NFPE facilitates
education programs through community-based learning centers.
MSS’s NFPE program is designed to reach children who are
unable to attend formal schools due to various reasons such as
poverty or remoteness. The NFPE program aims to provide
foundational literacy and numeracy skills, as well as life skills, and
social skills. NFPE is flexible, adaptable, and customized to meet
the specific needs of the learners and their communities.

MSS – NFPE: AT A GLANCE

  1. MSS is currently operating 17 Upanusthanik Sikhaloy (NFPE) with a total of 448 students in different slums or areas of Dhaka city inhabited by low income families.
  2. MSS targets children aged 8-14 from slum areas of Dhaka city for it’s NFPE. Most of their parents are day laborers, factory & garments workers, rickshaw pullers, drivers, and housemaids.
  3. Location of schools: Mirpur 1- (4 schools); Mirpur 11- (1 school); Mirpur 12- (2 schools); Mirpur 13-(2 schools), Mirpur 14-(3 schools); Korail-(3 schools); Mohakhali-(1 school); and Lalbagh-(1 school).
  4. Student enrollment: Up to 30 students are enrolled in each class. Grades: 1 to 4
  5. School Hours: At 15 schools activity starts from 08:00 am to 11:00 am (morning shift) and at two schools second shift runs from 12 pm -3 pm (afternoon shift) except on Friday & Saturday.
  6. Books from National Curriculum & Text Book Board (NCTB) are supplied to the students.
  7. Other educational materials such as stationaries are provided.
  8. School dress is provided.

School Activities

  1. Teaching basic literacy & numeracy skills to children including reading, writing & arithmetic.
  2. Life skill training for children like- personal hygiene, health education & social awareness.
  3. Ensure a playful learning environment.
  4. Provide teachers training on ‘Skill development & classroom facilitation’.
  5. Arrange half-yearly student assessments to monitor the progress of the students.
  6. Facilitate extra-curricular activities such as sports, art, and music to bring out the best in them and develop their social skills.

Benefits of NFPE:

Our NFPE programs offer several benefits to learners and their communities, including-

  1. Improved literacy & numeracy skills.
  2. Enhanced life skills, such as problem-solving, health awareness,and communication
  3. Promotion of social cohesion, and respect for diversity and inclusion.
  4. Increased children’s enrollment in formal education.
  5. Empowerment of marginalized communities including girls & children living in poverty.