Discussion on 'barriers to women’s education' held in Kalkini

A discussion and recognition programme was held in Kalkini upazila of Madaripur on Sunday to address barriers to women’s education and encourage students to achieve academic success.

The event was organised by the Kalkini upazila unit Bashundhara Shuvosangho at Kalkini Pilot Girls’ High School, with the slogan “Standing by Everyone in Good Causes”.

Kalkini upazila unit Shuvosangho Vice-President Naimul Hasan Nahid chaired the programme, while Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kishor Kumar Dash attended as the chief guest. Kalkini unit Shuvosangho General Secretary Tanha Islam moderated the discussion.

Kalkini Upazila Women’s Affairs Officer Hamida Khatun and Kalkini Pilot Girls’ High School Headteacher Suresh Chandra Gain attended as special guests.

At the discussion titled “Barriers to Women’s Education and Ways to Overcome Them”, speakers said poverty, school dropout, child marriage, child labour, lack of awareness, infrastructural limitations at educational institutions and various security concerns have become major obstacles to women’s education.

They stressed that families, teachers, educational institutions, the administration and society as a whole must work together in a coordinated manner to remove these barriers.

UNO Kishor Kumar said support for students from poor families should be increased, effective measures should be taken to prevent dropouts, educational infrastructure should be improved, teachers should be provided with training and the quality of education should be ensured.

He also stressed the need to raise social awareness to prevent child marriage, saying the expansion of women’s education would help build a skilled and self-reliant generation that could play an important role in the country’s development and progress.

At the end of the discussion, a crest was presented to Kalkini upazila unit Shuvosangho General Secretary Tanha Islam in recognition of her achieving first class in the degree examination from Madaripur Government College.

Expressing her feelings about the achievement, Tanha said, “My family, teachers and well-wishers have inspired me throughout this journey. I want to continue working for people’s welfare alongside my studies in the future.”