Currently, the Bangladesh government does not have a strategy to address the educational needs of children in the country's urban slums, which can be found in huge pockets throughout Dhaka and other metropolitan areas. While this presents major challenges, it also provides space for creativity and innovation: This woman, Shireen, is the aunt of a Bangladeshi friend of mine here. She inherited a huge home that sits in the midst of one of these slums. In 2002, on the first floor of her home she opened a school - pre-primary through fifth grade - for children living in this slum. Her daughter designed these uniforms, which are free for the 120 kids that go to this school six days a week.
By piecing together donations, the children receive a meal every day. They also go on field trips to places like the Liberation War Museum and the Dhaka Zoo. Shireen is in the process of applying for NGO certification here, so she can receive foreign contributions. She turns away all donations from political parties here; she's not willing to give them a say in these kids' education.
I have heard of a number of families here opening their homes to start schools - for wealthier children as a profit-making venture, and for poor children with no viable alternatives.
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