For many people, education is the best way to build a better future. This is why Austrian Doctors has been supporting schools in the slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh, for over 30 years. The largest school is the Manda School. The school is housed in a six-storey building and 36 teachers teach the almost 1,200 children in shifts in order to give even more children access to education.
Since 1991, the Bengali coordinator Mr. Aminul “Babul” Hoq has set up three schools for slum children in Bangladesh. He himself comes from the poorest of backgrounds and grew up in a slum. Through lucky coincidences and hard work, he made his way from ball boy at the “Australian Club” in Dhaka to a job as a cook in Kolkata and finally to coordinator of the schools in Dhaka. Babul repeatedly emphasizes the important role of school education in escaping the poverty trap. Education enables people to make their own decisions and provide for themselves. Babul wants to offer children in the slums the opportunity to attend school in order to give them the tools for a better future. In its three elementary school in Dhaka, almost 2,000 pupils receive a basic education. In some cases, lessons are held in shifts so that as many children as possible can attend the schools.
As our Manda School is officially registered, all the usual subjects in Bangladesh are taught at the school. Naturally, the pupils also complete the school levels regularly. The educational program ranges from pre-school classes to tenth grade.
The tests
are held in cooperation with the Bangladeshi Ministry of Education.
There is a monthly teacher meeting as well as consultation hours for parents and regular home visits to the children. The drop-out rate is very low, as many parents can be persuaded through home visits to send their children to school instead of to work.
The schoolchildren get
However, their parents must pay a small contribution towards the school fees. However, if the parents cannot afford this contribution, the children can of course continue to attend the school.
In addition to the traditional school subjects, older pupils are also offered vocational courses. For example, they learn the basics for a career as a hairdresser, beautician, seamstress or in the IT sector. Some are already able to earn their own small income through these additional qualifications. This is the basis for an independent life, especially for the young women.
Particularly brilliant students also have the opportunity to attend secondary school and later even university through an Austrian Doctors scholarship program.
Malnutrition often leads to children being impaired in their mental and physical development. This is why Austrian Doctors provide the pupils with a hot meal every school day. This helps to prevent malnutrition and the resulting secondary diseases. The exemplary story of Rabya Doly shows that there is hope: The now twenty-seven-year-old grew up in the slums of Dhaka and attended our Manda School there. Rabya therefore knows very well how valuable daily meals are and remembers: “There wasn’t always enough to eat in my family, so I was very grateful that I was given lunch at school.” After graduating, she is now studying at the state university.
"I have been working with Austrian Doctors for many years. Many years in which, thanks to you, countless children have been able to go to school and learn. Education is the future of Bangladesh."
Management of school projects in Bangladesh
The following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being promoted with the help of this project:
The local NGO behind the Manda School is the “Glory Future Model School”, whose director is Mr. Aminul “Babul” Hoq. Babul himself comes from the poorest of backgrounds and grew up in a slum.
