The Baseline

The challenges which the Bangladeshi population faces every day are hard to comprehend for many Austrians:

This is where JANA steps in. In Bangladesh compulsory education is provided till the age of 9 or 10. However, this is often terminated earlier. This results in a high dropout rate of 40%. But what causes such a high drop-out rate in a country where compulsory schooling is only 5 years anyway?

On the one hand,  this quota can be explained by the unstable school system in Bangladesh. Class sizes from 60 to 100 students for which one teacher is responsible are not the exception, but the norm. These enormous class sizes are a too big challenge for any teacher. This in turn results in physical and psychological punishment measures. Individual care of children is not possible due to the general conditions. Children from poorer backgrounds, whose parents cannot read or write themselves and who cannot support them in their school work, suffer particularly badly from these difficult learning conditions. the pressure is high, demotivation is much more serious. Poor experiences with the school system combined with the pressure to be responsible for the family from an early age force children into child labour. Child labour takes a key position, especially in Bangladesh, because many many minors are victims of exploitation by employers. Their chances of a sound education, perspectives, a healthy future or a self responsible life are fading.