For 68 long years, the children of the enclaves in Kurigram have been deprived of education. But that scene has now changed. The recently established preschools in the enclave areas are now vibrant with children.
To educate these deprived children, the Islamic Foundation established these education centres in mosques, courtyards in the Choto Kamat, Boro Kamat, Raser Mela and other areas of the Dasiarchara enclave in the district. With the door to education and opportunities now open, parents along with the children are now excited.
The Islamic Foundation, with an aim to bring the deprived children under the scope of mainstream education, have started the preschool education programme with 840 students in 28 education centres established in six enclaves in Kurigram.
In the Dasiarchara enclave, it was seen that children are going to the education centres in groups, singing the national anthem of Bangladesh, happily and loudly reciting the alphabets.
Some of the students said this is the first time they got the chance to be educated. One student Asifa said: “We want to study and become educated now.”
Sultana Shirin, a teacher of the Choto Kamat centre, said: “We are taking classes six days a week for three hours from 7am to 10am. Each of the centres are accommodating 30 students.”
Islamic Foundation sources said the teachers would be paid Tk2,300 honorarium per month under this education programme.
The enclave residents are also delighted at this new beginning. Rafiqul, a resident of Dasiarchara said: “As there were no schools in the enclaves all this time, we could not educate our children. But now we can.”
Another resident Aftab Hossain said: “The days of hiding identities to give the children an education is over. We are now relieved.”
Thanking the authorities for such an initiative, Enclave Coordination Council General Secretary Golam Mostofa said: “The locals will always remember this great first step taken by the Islamic Foundation to facilitate education for these deprived children.”
District Islamic Foundation officer Nurul Amin Ansari told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have plans to develop this preschool programme to the primary level in future.”