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Right to education: Still not ensured

Oli Md. Abdullah Chowdhury
MANY readers might be surprised to come across the news on primary education published in The Daily Star, entitled, "Children in Jamuna chars denied proper learning" on August 8, 2013. Knowing that Bangladesh is on track regarding primary education related MDG, it came as an apparent shock for the informed group of readers. Many children living in Chars and other geographically-challenged areas are still out of school and denied basic rights to education. Let alone quality, state of primary education is in a shamble in many geographically-challenged areas largely due to shortage of institutions and infrastructural facilities.
Although Bangladesh has already met the target in nine MDG indicators, including poverty reduction, attaining gender parity at primary and secondary level education, and reduction in the prevalence of malaria and mortality rate under the age of five; significant numbers of children are still denied their right to primary education and environmental sustainability is under severe threat.
Article 17 of the Constitution guarantees free and compulsory education. The Article reads as follows: The state shall adopt effective measures for (i) establishing a uniform mass-oriented and universal system of education and
extending free and compulsory education to all children to such stage as may be determined by law; (b) relating education to the needs of the society and producing properly trained and motivated citizens to serve these needs; (c) removing illiteracy within such time as may be determined by law".
However, education is a fundamental human right and essential for the realisation of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and yields important development benefits. It has been stated in Article 28(1) of the UNCRC, "States Parties recognise the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis of equal opportunity, they shall, in particular: (a) Make primary education compulsory and available free to all; (b) Encourage the development of different forms of secondary education, including general and vocational education, make them available and accessible to every child, and take appropriate measures such as the introduction of free education and offering financial assistance in
case of need;(c) Make higher education accessible to all on the basis of capacity by every appropriate means; (d) Make educational and vocational information and guidance available and accessible to all children; (e) Take measures to encourage regular attendance at schools and the reduction of drop-out rates". Bangladesh is one of the earliest signatories of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the convention is a legally-binding interna- tional agreement setting out the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities.
Recently, the draft Education Act 2013 has been shared on the education ministry website in order to get feedback from the people on the draft .It has been suggested in the draft law that compulsory primary education will be up to Class VI11 from Class I and Bangla, English, mathematics, religious instruction, moral education, Bangladesh studies, information technology, science, and introduction to environment will be made compulsory in general schools, madrasas and kindergartens.
Several researches also suggested addressing regional inequality issues. A study conducted by UNICEF, entitled "A Case for Geographic Targeting of Basic Social Services to Mitigate Inequalities in Bangladesh" revealed relative poor performance of the isolated regions in terms of achieving development goals. It appears that progress has been limited so far in addressing regional deprivation.
However, it has been suggested in the constitution to bring about a radical transformation in the rural areas. It has been said in Article 16 of the constitution, "The State shall adopt effective measures to bring about a radical transformation in the rural areas through the promotion of a agricultural revolution, the provision of rural electrification, the devel-
opment of cottage and other industries, and the improvement of education, communications and public health, in those areas, so as progressively to remove the disparity in the standards of living between the urban and the rules areas". Will there be necessary steps from government functionaries in order to improve education facilities in Chars and other deprived regions?
THE WRITER IS A HUMAN RIGHTS WORKER.