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Literacy the key to understanding
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| A church-based literacy group. In addition to these groups, the Bangladesh Bible Society is planning to run an advanced literacy program in rural areas in the period to 2010. Bangladesh. Photo: Bangladesh Bible Society (BAN05DJ-5.JPG) |
It is now more than 10 years since the Bible Society, in collaboration with the UBS and the Bangladesh Lutheran Mission, launched a pilot literacy scheme. Since then, more than 200 church-based literacy groups have been established, with particular attention being given to rural areas where illiteracy is most widespread. The Bible-based study materials consist of audio cassettes and related books which serve the dual purpose of boosting the participants’ literacy skills and improving their knowledge of the Bible.
Next stage
While continuing to support the existing groups, the Bible Society is also looking to progress to the next stage in its literacy work: an ‘advanced’ program in four districts supervised directly by local facilitators. In each of the districts, five churches will run classes which will be supplied with complete sets of audio cassettes, cassette players, batteries, books and any other equipment required. The 20 classes will have a total of 400 students, each of whom will attend for one and a half hours a day, six days a week, for two years.
Handful of rice
As well as this considerable time commitment, each student will be expected to make a financial contribution as a means of ensuring their personal commitment. For many of the poorest, this will take the form of a handful of rice, rather than money. From these modest beginnings, the Bible Society hopes that, by 2010, the advanced literacy program will have grown to as many as 50 groups with 2,000 students.
Previous reports about the Bangladesh Bible Society’s literacy program can be found in World Report 361/22 and 368/33.
This report refers to project BAN017. (WR 396/4 - 09/10.05) [1 photo]