Plan International seeks partnership to improve education, prevent child marriage.
Plan International, an international development organisation, has expressed interest in working with the Bangladesh government to improve primary education quality, develop children's foundational skills and creative thinking, expand educational opportunities for girls and prevent child marriage.
Reena Ghelani, Global Chief Executive Officer of Plan International, conveyed the interest at a meeting with State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj at the Secretariat here, a handout said.
During the meeting, Reena Ghelani commended the State Minister's leadership and initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of primary education in Bangladesh.
She noted that early childhood development, quality education and the prevention of child marriage are among Plan International's top priorities.
The organisation intends to leverage its long-standing presence in Bangladesh and its global expertise to align its efforts with the government's development plans, she said.
In particular, Reena said, it seeks to collaborate with the government to ensure that the benefits of education and development reach children and communities in marginalised areas.
Bobby Hajjaj said the primary objective of primary education is not merely to enroll children in schools, but to ensure quality and effective learning for every child.
The government is placing special emphasis on enabling students to acquire foundational literacy and numeracy skills, while also cultivating critical thinking, creativity and the competencies necessary for their future lives, he said.
Bobby Hajjaj said the government is actively working to make primary education contemporary and future-oriented.
They also discussed several key areas: preventing girls from dropping out at the secondary level; ensuring safe, child-friendly school environments including separate sanitation and hygiene facilities; preventing child marriage; and empowering local communities and families to address the impacts of climate change.
The state minister also highlighted an initiative to integrate students' innovative ideas and solutions for local challenges into the policymaking process.
The Plan International CEO said the organisation currently operates in 80 countries worldwide.
Leveraging their long-standing experience in Bangladesh, they are keen to expand their work on a larger scale, focusing on education, child rights, the empowerment of girls, and the development of marginalised communities, she said.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, along with Plan International Bangladesh's Country Director, Kabita Bose, and Director Nishat Sultana.
