Importance of following up
EDS follows up the EDS students and their parents closely to assure a good development for the children. Both EDS participants and their parents are responsible for the children's education. Most of the parents work in factories or drive van/rickshaw. They have no time for their children and often beat them if they do small mistakes. We motivate the parents about education and encourage them to guide their children to good behaviour instead of using physical punishment.
EDS also gives gifts to the parents that:
- Who has shown the largest responsibility in taking care of her children.
- The best group of mothers in the group discussions during the EDS mother meeting.
Responsibilities for parents
If EDS is to take the responsibility of assisting their children in their education, the parents must create a good study environment for their children.
Parents can do this by:
- Not beating their children
- Sending their children to school
- Looking after that their children study at home
- Looking after that their children attend the EDS study groups and other EDS activities
To assure good quality EDS continuously dialogue with the students to get feedback on the EDS teachers, the environment in the EDS lectures, how their parents support their studies and behave with them, that they and their fellow students attend the study groups, school and EDS and behave well.
EDS also seeks feedback from the parents on their children's behavioural development.
Responsibilities for EDS students
The EDS students are responsible for:
- Attending school and EDS every day
- Attending the EDS study groups and other EDS activities
- Teaching the younger EDS children voluntarily
- Behaving well with the other EDS students
- Behaving well with and aiding their families and others
- Being cooperative and not selfish
- Not involve in corruption
- Taking care of the vegetable garden and pisciculture
To be allowed to join the sports and cultural activities the students have to follow the responsibilities. Those who don't follow the rules may watch the sports, but not play. This motivates them to follow the rules to be allowed to play the next time.
School system in Bangladesh
The school system in Bangladesh is divided in four levels
- From year 1 - 5: Primary Level
- From year 6 - 10: Secondary Level
- From year 11 - 12: Higher Secondary Level
- Tertiary Level
Starting from 1st grade the children have to pass the local school exams to be eligible to continue to the higher class. In grade 5, 8, 10 and 12 the students also sit for the national Board exam (arranged and controlled by the Mininistry of education), which they have to pass to be eligible to continue to the next level. To be allowed to take the Board exam the students have to pass the local school exam first.
Grading System
5th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade
- A+: above 80% correct (GPA 5)
- A: 70-79% (GPA 4)
- A-: 60-69% (GPA 3.5)
- B: 50-59% (GPA 3)
- C: 40-49% (GPA 2)
- D: 33-39% (GPA 1)
- F: 0-32% (GPA 0)
There are seven eductional boards in Bangladesh, and the EDS students belong to the Jessore Board. In 2010, the number of chidren taking the 5th and 8th grade Jessore Board exam were 2.000.000 and 1.152.536 respectively.
