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National Children Policy 2011

The National Child Policy, applicable to all children - the citizen of Bangladesh without any discrimination, was endorsed in 2011. The fundamental Principles of the National Children Policy are 1) Ensuring child rights in the light of the constitution of Bangladesh, Child Act and International Charters/ Conventions, 2) Poverty alleviation of the children, 3) Elimination of all forms of child abuse and discrimination, 4) Elimination of all forms of abuse of and discrimination to female child and 5) Participation of the children and accepting their views into consideration in overall protection and, in the best interest of the children.

The Children Act 2013

Bangladesh has enacted new legislation for the benefit of its estimated 70 million children, repealing the Children Act of 1974. The preamble to the Children Act, 2013, (henceforth referred to as ‘the Act’), officially known as “Shishu Ain, 2013”, states that it has been enacted for the purpose of implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Act received assent of the President was published in the official Gazette on 20 June 2013. By a subsequent Gazette notification dated 18 August 2013 the Act was made effective from 21 August 2013.

National Education Policy 2010

The Government of Bangladesh adopted the National Education Policy in 2010. The main focuses of the education policy are developing human resources through structural reforms that are expected to bring significant improvements in the education sector, executing management of the education system, increasing access and gender equity, alleviating the existing problems in respect of management and quality through reforms across the education system, developing system of governance within the current administrative structure, ensuring appropriate financial controls to increase accountability and transparency in the use of resources and raising the quality and cost-effectiveness of service delivery, and improving equity of access in secondary education.

Operational Framework for Pre-Primary Education

Ministry of Primary and Mass Education approved the ‘Operational Framework for Pre-primary Education’ in March 2008. The purpose of this operational framework was to provide a matrix of age-appropriate developmental milestones for major developmental domains for young children; a curricular framework that will indicate learning objectives, content, outcomes, sequence and assessment approach for pre-primary programme appropriate for all children; an organizational and management framework to facilitate and support consideration of policy, strategy, programme development and implementation of pre-primary programme through the involvement of all major stakeholders and providers of services.

Guideline on GO-NGO Collaboration for Universal Pre-Primary Education in Bangladesh

The Guideline on GO-NGO Collaboration for Universal Pre-Primary Education in Bangladesh was approved by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in June 2011. The purpose of this guideline was to mobilize and make best use of all available potential resources for a combined/united effort towards fulfillment of short and long term vision and goals of ECD as mentioned in the PPE operational framework approved in March 2008.

Implementation plan of GO-NGO Collaboration Guideline for Universal PPE in Bangladesh

The Implementation Plan of the GO-NGO collaboration guideline for Universal Pre-Primary Education in Bangladesh is to provide detailed guidance for all key stakeholders. It was approved by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in June 2012. All Government Ministries involved in collaborative initiatives with NGOs. All NGOs who satisfy the criteria to work collaboratively with Government Ministries as specified in the relevant guidelines for that specialization.

Pre-Primary Education Expansion Plan

The expansion plan of Pre-Primary Education in Bangladesh was adopted in December 2012 by the Directorate of Primary Education under the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. The objectives of the expansion plan are to set international comparable standards with gradation of PPE service delivery; to plan year-wise for introduction of PPE service delivery standards into all GPS and RNGPS by 2016 and beyond, to rollout plan of expansion of PPE services through NGOs in line with GO-NGO collaboration guideline and to develop plan for activities to be carried out at central level to facilitate smooth implementation of PPE Expansion plan.

Country Report on Early Childhood Care & Education in Bangladesh

Ministry of Primary and Mass Education prepared a country report on Early Childhood Care & Education in Bangladesh in 2013. The main focus of this report was to give an overview of the situation of the Pre-Primary Education in Bangladesh – progress, challenges and way forward

Education Watch 2013

New Vision Old Challenges - The State of Pre - primary Education in Bangladesh

The twelfth Education Watch report attempts to provide a comprehensive picture of pre-primary education provision in Bangladesh. It provides the current situation of pre-primary education and its implementation gaps. The study can be used as a baseline for monitoring future progress. For the first time, the issue of pre-primary education has been selected as the theme for the Education Watch study. The study was led by Campaign for Popular Education with contribution from ECD resource persons and stakeholders.

Comprehensive Policy on Early Childhood Care and Development 2013

The Comprehensive Policy for Early Childhood Care and Development, applicable to all Bangladesh children from conception to age eight, was approved in 2013 by Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh. The aim of this policy is to nurture and raise all children with care, security, dignity, affection and love and to establish a strong foundation for their development, irrespective of ethnicity, geographical location, gender, religion, special needs and socio-economic conditions.