Following the Memorandum of Understanding reached last year between the BGMEA and the 1LO and UNICEF, the first school for child workers opened in Khilgaon on Wednesday. With a marked difference in the form and quality of education being provided at this school, the move proposes to cover working children, particularly those removed from Jobs in garment factories because of underage.

BRAC has been given the responsibility to run this school in recognition of its service to primary education. The school at Khilgaon, however, will concentrate on drawing all the working children from that locality. More such schools will be required to get the thousands of retrenched children enrolled for the non-formal type of education. Quite a few months have already passed after the decision on the fate of those children and any further delay in bringing them to schools would mean most of them — if not all of them — drifting into odd jobs without leaving behind any trace.

To get the benefit of the understanding reached on the child workers’ rehabilitation, the process certainly needs to be expedited. The setting up of a school at Khilgaon is but a small step. Still, it is hailed as a good beginning made. The provision for meal, and flexibility in attendance suiting their differing spare time is a radical concept. The school, are to impart vital training for the eventual absorption of the children into jobs In the industry. So, more such schools must be opened soon and the children brought under them.