'Ensure non-formal education to create scope for 40m'

State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Motahar Hossain speaks at the workshop at Brac Centre Inn in the city yesterday. On his right are Derek Elias and Sayeda Rahman.Photo: STAR

About 40 million people will be deprived of education unless non-formal education (NFE) is ensured to the people of the country, speakers said at a workshop
“As many as 37.73 million illiterate people are to be taught by non-formal education,” said Motahar Hossain, state minister for primary and mass education, at the workshop titled "Capacity development of NFE teaching personnel in Asia and Africa.”
He made the comment at the inaugural session of the three-day-international workshop jointly organised by Unesco, Dhaka, Regional Bureau for Education, Bangkok and Section for Teacher Education
“Quality of non-formal education depends on the teachers' quality. This is the high time to develop the capacity of non-formal education teaching personnel,” he added.
Program specialist of section for teacher education Sayeeda Rahman presented the background of the workshop at the session chaired by Officer-in-Charge Unesco, Dhaka Derek Elias.
“If teachers are not prepared in the non-formal sector, the goal of education for all cannot be achieved,” said Sayeda Rahman
Director general of Bureau of Non-Formal Education Rezaul Qader, programme specialist Unesco, Dhaka Kiichi Oyasu and secretary of Bangladesh National Commission for Unesco Adbul Khaleque also spoke at the programme.