MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce that Australia will contribute approximately $7 million over four years to a program providing quality education for up to one million children living in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh
The contribution, to the UNICEF Intensive District Approach to Education for All program, aims to provide a quality education for the children of Dinajpur district by improving teaching and retention rates and making schools more relevant.
Although 14.9 million Bangladeshi children are enrolled in primary school, only 6.9 million finish their studies, mainly because of poverty and pressure to stay at home and work.
The program aims to make education more relevant to the lives of people in rural areas. This goal will be achieved by training local administrators and head teachers to run schools that are more responsive to parents' and other community members' views.
The project targets the poorest children, providing them with education materials and other support. Without a basic education, these children will not be able to take advantage of the steady growth of the Bangladeshi economy and will remain in poverty.
Recently, Bangladesh has recruited more female teachers which is a major step to providing girls with more effective role models. The program also promotes the status of women teachers, enhances their role in the school, and improves their chances of moving into management positions.
Australia's aid to Bangladesh has focused on providing food security to the most vulnerable people - landless rural people and poor women. This immediate relief will be complemented by the UNICEF education project which is helping people to overcome poverty in the longer term.
NEW YORK
Media contacts:
Judi Nixon (Mrs Sullivan's office) 07 5591 1011 / 0411 287 258
Michelle Hardy (AusAID) 02 6206 4968 / 0417 680 590