The Non-Formal Education Program is one of the priority programs of BGS intervention. BGS believes that education is one of the most important building blocks for developing the nation. Considering the importance, BGS has given emphasis and implemented education program from its inception. The non-formal education program is one of the approaches especially in the pre-primary education sector which has gained a remarkable achievement during the last 2 decades. BGS has also implemented the program in its working catchment areas of Cox’s Bazar, Khulna, Bagerhat, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Tangail districts.
BGS had implemented 20 pre-schools under an integrated project “Project for Social Development through Poverty Reduction (PSDPR)” since 2006 at Matarbari, Moheshkhali Upazila of Cox’s Bazar district. The project had been implemented with the financial support of Licht Bruecke (LB)-Germany and Ms. Rita Guggenburger-Friend of LB. Under this project each year a total 600 (30 students for each school) kids enrolled (age from 04 to 05 years) for one-year period from January to December. The pre-school activity component had been operated by implementing several regular based activities, such as; children survey and admission, organizing teacher’s training, formation of school management committees, procurement of teaching materials and supply on time, organizing monthly refresher training and coordination meetings, continuous supervision and monitoring, holding half yearly and annual examination for the children and organizing annual sports at the end of the year.
After completion the one year they were ready to admit the local primary school for class-I. The main object of the project (pre-education project) was to make them ready and habituated to go to school. From 2006 to 2019 under this project a total 8,400 student enrolled and successfully completion their course and then admitted 100% in the local primary school. Finally, this project was phaseout in the December 2019.
Considering the effectiveness of the program and with continual demand of community, presently BGS is continuing 3 pre-schools with a total 90 student following the same procedure since January 2020 by the private donor.