Project Name: Let Us Learn Project in Sunamgonj
Project Introduction: Sunamganj district, one of the lagging behind districts in Bangladesh from different development indicators, is widely known as the area of haors and baors. The project is designed for the Out of School girls and boys living in Sunamganj, who are either dropped out from the school system or never enrolled in any kind of educational institutions. According to the report of Annual Primary School Census (APSC), 2016 it is found that 92.5% children are enrolled in schools in Sunamganj whereas the national Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 97.9%. Not only that, the children who are enrolled in the school cannot complete the primary education cycle. The significant number of children are dropped out from the school system which is 27.8%. This is alarming for the whole education sector that contributes towards the achievements negatively. So, it is necessary to support the community as well as education sectors to mitigate the challenge to increase the access to education and cycle completion and also decrease the drop-out rate. Not only that, it is very crucial to make the children get prepared for the school system so that they can get entered into the primary education with full preparation.

Considering the situation of the specific contexts, the project is designed keeping in view of socio-economic and geo-physical nature, need and vulnerability of Sunamganj district of Haor area. The accessibility to education with quality always remains as big question in this district, Ability Based Accelerated Learning (ABAL) approach along with Pre-Primary has been proposed to implement the learning centers. It will also support the girls and boys with different learning ability. Alongside, creating a synergy of all actors in the project, public and developmental partnership along with participation of the government, linkage between formal and non-formal settings will be one of the key aspects. Institutional engagement (Union Parishad, government education authority, other relevant departments and service providers in the project location) is also instrumental to address the barriers of education and community development. Project outputs and time frame have therefore been planned accordingly. Other elements of education under this project will facilitate required socialization and leadership qualities of children contributing to UNICEF strategic theme as suggested. This will be the Theory of Change (TOC) of the project.

The intervention of this project will be delivered through PPE and ABAL centres. ABAL centres will be operated in two shifts of eight hours per day. Tested UNICEF supported previous ABAL curriculum will be followed which will also utilize lessons learnt from other non-formal education interventions in Bangladesh. It is based on the existing primary education curriculum. The model is also accepted and recognized by the government of Bangladesh. Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) also conducted pilot with this model under Second Chance Education in the different upazila of this district. The competencies have been set in line with the primary education curriculum of National Curriculum and Text Book Board. The PPE curriculum is fully adapted from government which will be for the girls and boys of 5-6 years old. The ABAL curriculum is designed for children aged 8-14 years with different abilities having access to a multi-grade and multi-ability-based learning opportunity.

There will be also provision of social and behavioral change initiatives as community dialogue, sensitization activities, IPT show etc. which will contribute towards the positive change of community. Before the activities, a C4D strategy workshop will be facilitated to strategize and detail out the contextualized based activities. The staff as well as teachers and community members will be supported for their capacity building for the social and behavioural change. Protection will be the other area of convergence of the project through CBCPC. CBCPS members in the project area will be oriented about the project activities. Capacity building on birth registration is also kept to convergence with child protection. Centre Management Committees will support the children and community for protection issues as birth registration aligning with CBCPCs.

Project Agreement Number: BCO/PCA/2017/057-2019/001

Overall Objective: The out of school and dropped out children rate will be decreased in South Sunamganj&Biswamvarpurupazila under Sunamganj district by December 2020.

Specific Objectives: By December 2020, 9000 girls and boys from PPELCs completed PPE with nationally defined competencies and enrolled in grade 1 of nearest primary schools.

By December 2020, 3000 girls and boys of Ability Based Accelerated Learning centres continued education and achieved grade wise competencies in all subjects; out of them at least 20% will complete primary cycle or mainstreamed through government primary schools.

By December 2020, communities and relevant stakeholders in the PPE and ABAL centre catchment areas are sensitized on the needs of education for Out of School girls and boys and completion of the full primary education cycle.

Outputs:
Output 1: 9000 Out-of-Pre-Primary Education-girls and boys aged 5-6 years including 5% children with disability are enrolled in 150 Pre-Primary Education Learning Centers having a trained teacher and equipped with teaching learning materials.

Output 2: 9000 girls and boys from PPELCs completed PPE with nationally defined competencies and enrolled in grade I of nearest primary schools.

Output 3: 3000 Out-of-School girls and boys aged 8-14 years including 5% children with disability are enrolled in 100 ABAL Centres having trained teacher and equipped with teaching learning materials.

Output 4: 3000 girls and boys of ABAL centres continued education and achieved grade wise competencies in all subjects; out of them at least 20% will complete primary cycle or mainstreamed through government primary schools.

Output 5: Communities and relevant stakeholders in the PPE and ABAL centre catchment areas are sensitized on the needs of education for Out of School girls and boys and completion of the full primary education cycle.

Output 6: Effective and efficient programme management is in place for the project.

Project Components:  Pre-Primary Education & Primary Education.
Major Activities:

• Establishment of PPE& ABAL learning Centers.
• Teacher’s training (Basic, Orientation &Refreshers).
• Monitoring, mentoring and supervision structure of PPE & ABAL.
• Capacity building of project staffs and programme beneficiary.
• Social mobilization and community engagement (C4D strategy, action plan and implementation).
• Strengthening sub-national system (Orientation of government officers and teachers, joint monitoring with education authorities, joint sports with primary schools etc.).
• Progress review and coordination.

Project Participants (Direct): [During Total Project Year)

Indirect Beneficiaries (by age)[During Total Project Year)

Total Beneficiaries:direct = 12751, Indirect= 60535
Project Duration: March 12, 2019 to December 31, 2020 (Ext December 2021)
Financial partner (Donor): UNICEF
Implementing partner (if any): N/A
Project Location (District &Upazila): SouthSunamganj&BiswamvarpurUpazila under Sunamganj District.
Number of Field offices: Two
Project Budget: BDT 115,739,875 (USD 1,380,462)

Number of project staffs and volunteers:

Contact Person:Dipak Kumar Roy, Project Manager
Email: dampmlul@gmail.com, Cell: 01743698846