CHAR FASSON, BHOLA, July 8: At least 42 per cent students are dropping out of primary education in the district, and it is increasing day by day.
The dropout is happening due to child marriage, insecure future and seasonal child labour, according to a report released by a non-government organisation last month.
The area of Char Fasson Upazila is 1,106 sq km. The upazila consisting of separate islands has 260 primary schools, 115 independent schools, 65 combined schools, 18 kindergarten schools, and 135 NGO-run primary schools.
Although students were admitted to the school, they are dropping out of different classes of the school.
Girl students of class four and five are dropping out due to child marriage.
At least 42 per cent of class five students get engaged in labour work before passing class five.
It is learnt that due to the distance, remote communication, poverty of parents and education expenditure, students are getting involved in child labour.
Extreme poverty is pushing the children to drop out. A small part of the population is still homeless. About nine per cent is of lower income group and 11 per cent of middle income group. About 80 per cent children are studying in the light of kerosene lamp.
Coast Cast published a research report recently which says that despite free book and free school, other fees including exam fee, book price, dress cost are higher than that of the income.
According to the report, the number of dropout is becoming uncontrolled.
A child can earn Tk 18,000 by netting Bagda fry for three months, Tk 6,000 by harvesting seasonal crop for two months and by pulling rickshaw and other day-labour work in the rest six months.
The children are engaged in different works all round the year. Thus, despite paying Tk 1,200 scholarship, food for education and school feeding, the schools cannot hold the children.
Compulsory primary education cannot make the Char Fasson children attracted to schools. The children's future is getting dark.
