PROMOTING TRANSITION TO SECONDARY EDUCATION: HOW SCOPE PROVIDES SECOND CHANCE TO DROP-OUTS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN FOR POST-PRIMARY EDUCATION

Education

In Bangladesh, low transition rate and high dropout rate is a critical issue in secondary education. Government has taken many initiatives to address this issue. But still, after completing primary cycle many students enroll in secondary education but drop out before completing secondary education. So I have chosen as my research topic the issue of transition to secondary education, particularly how to provide a second chance to drop-outs and vulnerable children and youth for post primary education. The purpose of my study was to explore the SCOPE project of IED, BRAC University to find out which factors lead to dropout, and how the SCOPE project addresses these to promote transition to secondary education through different supportive activities. I also wanted to know how key stakeholders perceive these initiatives. This research is important because it addresses a key problem in secondary education and this study will help educators to take the successful interventions and initiatives that influence student enrollment and continuation at the secondary level. I used the qualitative research approach. I collected data through interviews, focus group discussions and document review. Through this study I have found that many students could not access and continue secondary education due to their socio-economic and family background, educational cost, school related factors, child labor and gender discrimination. The findings show that to promote transition in secondary education the SCOPE project developed learning centers, trained teachers to make lessons attractive and engaging, provided the necessary facilities such as low cost education, clean and attractive classrooms, sanitation facilities for girls, schools near the homes of students, safe learning environment, building parents’ awareness, and counseling adolescents on sexual and reproductive health and gender issues. All these initiatives helped to promote interest and motivation among the disadvantaged families and children to be admitted for a second chance and continuing post-primary or junior secondary education. The project has developed this low cost model of post-primary education which can be replicated and expanded.

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