Taimur Alam Khondaker :
Education is the backbone of a Nation. This is fifty years back Bangladesh got independence. At present there are 18 core of people in this independent country. But majority of the citizens are illiterate and end their life without knowledge of alphabet. A large number of children who was born with poverty out of their parents’ position have to live hand to mouth. Almost all parents desire to send their kids to school for education. But kids can not complete their primary education due to financial crisis. They had to leave the School to join a job to support their family income. There is a research where it has been tried to find out the cause as to why the boys and girls of minor age left the school and join in a job for earning to support themselves and their family members. Life history of a working minor boy who was compelled to off from his school life is disclosed below which may be an example, as to why the mass education program of the state became frustrated.
Md. Razib is the son Md. Babul Gazi and Momtaz Begum. They live in Gazaria village under Golachipa Thana of Patuakhali district. Now Razib works at the Canteen No. 1 of Supreme Court Bar Association in the capital. Razib was born on 19 October 2007. Now his identity is a Canteen Boy. Razib’s father is a disabled person; his mother had to run the family. Razib has grandfather and grandmother who are sick and dependent to his family. His elder brother is a peon in an Advocate Chamber. His younger brothers are students of primary school. Razib has no sister.
Razib’s father was a day laborer of a vegetable market in Nararangonj. But due to accident about 10 years ago he had gone back to his village, now he is disabled and dependent. Razib studied up to class III, but due to financial problem he could not continue with his study. At present he is working as Canteen Boy in canteen no. 1 of Supreme Court Bar Association and getting salary Tk 2,000 per month with food and lodging. He is also favored with trips from the customer about Tk. 100/- or 150/- per day. He sends his total income to support of his family keeping some pocket money in his hand.
His grandfather is owner of 15 decimal of paddy field which is very much insufficient to face the need of this family. After primary education his elder brother was admitted to nearest high school to continue with further education. But due to lack of financial support he also could not continue with further education and such he ran to capital city Dhaka to find out a calling for his living. At present he is working as a peon in a Chamber of a lawyer of Supreme Court and from that job he is earning Tk. 3,000/- to 4,500/- per month. He sends 80% of his income to his parents.
The minor boy Razib always suffers from depression because of deprivation from continuance of educational life. Physically he looks nice and beautiful boy. He desires to readmit in a school for education further. He found no night school or evening school in his county to facilitate the working boys for study. On the other had his colleague senior canteen boys who sleep together in a room tried to harass him sexually and he feel that he is not safe there, but for his survival he can not leave the job at present.
The Socio-cultural and economical condition of this boy is like other poor families of Bangladesh who are living hand to month. Socially their families are deprived in the locality. They have to perform their religious festival by the help of rich people of the locality and such each and every times they had to beg and knock the door of the rich people. So many times they were refused with neglecting attitude by the rich class. In spite of that his parent had to beg again and again to solvent person for help/aid for survival.
The education is only the backing to build a nation. As such to make progress in mass education sector it is necessary to start evening school program in every area to facilitate the working class minor boys and girls for primary and secondary education like higher education going on in public and private universities as to make facilities for the working class educated peoples who looks for higher studies.
That it is constitutional commitment to establish a uniform, mass oriented and universal education system through out the country irrespective of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. The article 17 of the constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh stated as establishing a uniform, mass-oriented and universal system of education and extending free and compulsory education to all children to such stage as may be determined by law; relating education to the needs of society and producing properly trained and motivated citizens to serve those needs; removing illiteracy within such time as may be determined by law.
(Taimur Alam Khondaker is Advocate (Appellate Division).
