Inclusive education: $18m USAID project kicks off

US Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME) has launched a new five-year $18 million inclusive education project ‘Shobai Miley Shikhi’ (Everyone Learns Together).

USAID Mission Director Kathryn D Stevens joined the Secretary of the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MoPME) Farid Ahmed, and Director General of the Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) Shah Rezwan Hayat at the launching ceremony, said a press release.

The project will improve learning opportunities for primary school children in hard-to-reach areas, with focus on those with disabilities or special needs.

With the aims of creating a more inclusive education system, the USAID Shobai Miley Shikhi project will train teachers to improve their skills in reaching students of all abilities in the classroom and provide specialized learning materials. 

The new project will engage parents, communities, and advocacy organizations for persons with disabilities to alleviate some of the unique challenges affecting students with special needs.  The programme will also strive to reduce stigma towards students with disabilities to help special-needs children position themselves to complete their education. 

“Improving the quality of learning for children with disabilities and making sure no child is left behind in their educational pursuits is a priority for USAID. Therefore, we are enthused to launch this new project with our partners from the Government of Bangladesh as we strive to achieve our shared vision of helping children of all skill levels and abilities complete their studies,” said USAID Mission Director Kathryn Davis.

The project will be implemented by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) International, which will work closely with the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in targeted upazilas to begin rolling out the new inclusive education project.