Visiting a Non Formal Institution : Ucep

ASSIGNMENT on Visiting a Non Formal Institution
PC-124: Non Formal & Continuing Education
By: A. K. M. RAYHAN To:
Roll: 09032, 15th batch Mr. Abdus Salam
Section-1, IER, DU Ass. Professor

T his assignment is a part of the PC course 124, Non Formal and Continuing Education. The objectives of the course was determined to help students acquire knowledge, understanding, ideas, issues, problems and the role of NFE in terms of Bangladesh context. To make this objective more realistic and meaningful our honorable course teacher Mr. Abdus Salam has drawn an assignment like this which includes both field work and desk job i.e. report submitting. I am really grateful to him for giving us such an opportunity to gain some real-time knowledge through practical experience.

Schooling is the one experience that most children worldwide have in common and the most common means by which societies prepare their young for the future. On any given day, more than a billion children are receiving education in primary or secondary school: They are in permanent or temporary buildings, in tents or under trees – sharing the experience of learning, developing their potential and enriching their lives. But for many unfortunates it is very ironic truth that they have missed their opportunity. For them non formal institution is the only means of schooling, receiving education and earning career oriented knowledge.

Actually formal and no formal education are different, they are not opposites. But there are four key characteristics came to be associated with non-formal education: * Relevance to the needs of disadvantaged groups. * Concern with specific categories of person. * A focus on clearly defined purposes. * Flexibility in organization, teaching and methods.
Recently I had visited such an institution which not only has the above characteristics but also bears the responsibility to archive the goal to many slum living underprivileged children and making them worthy for the nation. The name of it is UCEP-Jatrabari Technical School or DTS II which was established recently in 2009. I’ve visited there twice. My first visit was in 2009 when it was inaugurated. As a local resident of that area I was given a free pass. Recently I went again but not only to see but also observe with a different eye. I’ll now mention my recent visit. Visiting Profile | Date: 31/07/2011 Time: 10:30 am. | Venue: UCEP Technical School Jatrabari |
Ucep at a glance:
Underprivileged Children’s Education Programs (UCEP) – Bangladesh, is a leading national NGO working with the distressed urban working children. It was founded by Lindsey Allan Cheyne, a great social worker of New Zealand in 1972 at the Dhaka University premises. Initially there were only 60 students but by now it is now a shed of 37n thousands working children promoting them to inculcate marketable skills provide employment support service through: * Integrated General and Vocational Education(IGVE) * Technical Education * Employment Service * SME or credit program

Description of the visited school:
The student studies here come from any IGVE school of UCEP. The IGVE is a 4.5 years education which is similar to the 8th standard of national curriculum. On completion the IGVE they pursue technical knowledge. They learn mainly in market oriented subjects. Though UCEP has 17 different trades or course but here in Jatrabari only 8 is available. Mainly they teach them on: | Name of Trade | Duration | 1. | Welding and Fabrication | 12 months | 2. | Mechanist | 12 months | 3. | Plumbing and pipe fitting | 12 months | 4. | Electronic technology | 12 months | 5. | Industrial electrical elec. Control | 12 months | 6. | Refrigeration & Air Conditioning | 12 months | 7. | Industrial wool knitting | 6 months | 8. | Tailoring and industrial Sewing operation | 12 months | 9. | Expected | |

Target Group
The criteria for getting admitted here are Class 8 pass or any IGVE school completed ones. And the age limit is 17+ so that they would be 18 when the go to job market or industry. Most of the time UCEP has a employment Field Service or EFS which is a joint venture of UCEP and many industrial companies such as Singer, Phillips, Rahimafroz, Hamco etc. They employ them with expected wages. And if anyone is interested in business in technical expertise UCEP offers him with SME loans with no interest. Along with technical studies they are taught Bangla, English, Mathematics and Science. Religious study is not taught differently but along with other subjects. Enrollment of The courses is open to the students but in some particular subjects Girls are not interested such as welding plumbing.
Observation
1. | Building | 4 storied huge building of about 6000 square feet. With large premises. | 2. | Design | Designed well to pass air and light to whole building | 3. | Age | Age limit of the students: 17+ | 4. | Shifts &Duration | 2 shifts of the school. Each shift is 4.5 hours total 9 hours. | 5. | Number of students | 610 divided in two shifts. | 6. | Ratio | Teacher: student = 1: 10 | 7. | Classroom size | Varies from 10 students to 35 | 8. | Education | Technical and vocational | 9. | Duration of trades | 6 months to 1 year | 10. | Curriculum | Own curriculum, textbooks and teaching aids. | 11. | Educational expenses | Free of cost. | 12. | Monthly remuneration | 400 Taka | 13. | Teacher’s qualification: | Diploma Engineer or any technical degree. | 14. | Salary | Basic salary 16000 taka | 15. | Class rotation | 5 days in a week (Friday- Saturday off) | 16. | Instrument and Aids | Theory class and Practical labs are well equipped & some rooms have multimedia facility. | 17. | Class ratio | Theory class: practical class= 1:3 | 18. | Teaching method: | Learner-centered and practical work with demonstration | 19. | Attendance rate | Very high nearly 96% | 20. | Transportation | UCEP has own transport system | 21. | Co Curricular | Co Curricular activities are also held. |

Success:
The achievement of UCEP technical school is note worthy. So far, * The rate of attendance is high and the rate of drop-out is very low. * Girl’s participation is noticeable. * 98% pass rate. * School time is flexible. * Fully equipped class and lab. So Completion of all tasks in the classroom. * Teacher and student ratio is low (1:10). * Learner-centered teaching, teaching-learning method is participatory. * Teacher-students contact hours are sufficient. * Sincere and dedicated teachers. * Regular inspections of the activities of school by UCEP officials. * Participation of the community is very fruitful. * Future job oriented study. * Ensures job to all the students with reasonable wages * Winner of UCEP excellence of merit award

Challenges: According to the coordinator of UCEP, the major challenge they face is that the donors are interested in making UCEP a self reliant and income generating organization. This lacks the motto and goals, making it a business organization along the contemporary of education. * More schools are needed. * Salary of the teacher and instructor is not well enough. * Lack of medical Facility as it is a technical school * Lack of dining facility * No playground. * Need more Courses or Trades * Lack of involvement of government or funding. * No future ahead plan. * Involvement of more female students * Maintenance and regulation * Repairing of equipment requires long distance to travel.

Reflection:
This tour/visit was a pleasant experience for me. From this visit I’ve come to learn many things which will serve me for the lifetime. I once again thank my teachers for that. UCEP has established a milestone in producing marketable skills training and employment promotion for urban poor working class children, and making them skilled human resource for the country. UCEP is contributing largely to the employment of Bangladesh. Along with raising socio economic condition of the urban poor to a level that they can effectively participate in national development with enhanced capacity. This visit gave me the chance to get in depth knowledge and experience not only in context of no formal education but also in context of Bangladesh.