Better education, better living

Dr Manzoor Ahmed is Professor Emeritus at BRAC University and Senior Adviser of the BRAC University Institute of Educational Development.

The Business Standard, a Bangladesh newspaper, recently interviewed Manzoor Ahmed, who co-wrote with BHP Director John Richards and OFP Advisory Committee member Shahidul Islam, “The Political Economy of Education in South Asia: Fighting Poverty, Inequality, and Exclusion.” 

In the interview, Ahmed states,“The quality of basic education needs to be enhanced to produce productive and efficient workers. ...Proficiency in basic language skills, mathematics, reasoning, and critical thinking are crucial for acquiring the necessary skills for any job. … However, according to 2021 estimates, 58% of children in Bangladesh, similar to other low-income countries, lack these essential skills. ... without a solid foundation in basic education and competence, students may struggle to progress in their studies and utilize job-related training effectively… Additionally, there is a need for different institutions focusing on job-specific skills such as vocational institutions ...It is crucial to identify the NGOs that contribute positively and collaborate with them in partnership.”

Through our partnership with Oasis for Posterity, BHP helps develop both early skills and job-specific capability. We rely on donations to help pay for teacher salaries at Bluebell Primary Schools and Oasis Institute of Technology, ensuring brighter futures for their students.

Reports on 2023 progress

Since BHP began almost twenty years ago, in 2004, hundreds of individuals have participated as visiting faculty or global health students, as donors of educational resources and money and as researchers. To all contributors,past and present, a BIG THANK-YOU! for your unwavering support. With successful completion of our initial task to start a nursing college, BHP has shifted its focus in response to local requests. Every year we report on this progress to our sponsor, Mid-Main Community Health Centre and to everyone who has supported the BHP activities. We have just published two documents: One report is entirely about our work with Oasis for Posterity, where most donations are directed. The second report is an overview of several other initiatives under the BHP umbrella. Please contact us if you would like more information or need help to make a donation to these projects.

OFP Program Report January 2024.pdf

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Bangladesh Health Project Update January 2024.pdf

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Keeping kids in school

OFP’s Bluebell School offers classes up to Year Five. Education in Bangladesh is compulsory until the end of Year Eight and the government has prioritized education of girls and women. However, it is not uncommon for students to leave school earlier either for marriage or employment, with some traveling as far as Dhaka to find jobs. Currently all the graduating students at Bluebell plan to continue their education at nearby secondary schools. OFP will help these graduates by paying any admission fees, assisting them to obtain documents, providing a stipend for textbooks and supplies and some support for tuition costs. After they complete secondary school, Bluebell graduates will also receive free tuition at OIST if they wish to study there. Contributions from international donors go directly to keeping these young people in school.