Tremendous cognitive development through early education

Back in May 2014, little Songita started attending Senpara early childhood care and development (ECCD) centre. At first, she was totally unfamiliar with the alphabet, numbers, and even being in an educational environment.

She lives with her parents, Anil and Josna, and brothers in a rural area called Senpara.

Her father said, “At home we have no time to look after Songita’s study."

Her parents are day labourers and have no cultivable land. They even share their home with their cow, which is very unusual now in Bangladesh.

The early childhood care and development centre helped Songita successfully transition to primary school.

Songita's parents said to reduce the curse of illiteracy and ensure the flow of enrollment into the formal education system, ECCD centres are very important. They strongly believe that their daughter's educational success is reflective of the support of the ECCD centre.

Josna also benefitted, as she attended the parenting programme at the ECCD centre regularly and received orientation on child rights. The ECCD helped Songita successfully transition to primary school, which she started in January 2015.

Songita’s father says, “The foundation she received from the early childhood care and development system was very helpful and she now studies at home all by herself.”

Also in January 2015, Songita won the first prize at a cultural competition of primary schools of Begunbari union. She performed a song that she learned at the ECCD centre.

Her mother said, “Though we are so poor, my daughter acts as a light in our family. I’m so pleased for my daughter's performance.”

Songita says she feels very happy and she likes to come home from school because she has many friends in neighborhood to play with. She likes very much to play and sing songs and her favorite subject is Bangla.

Songita said “I want to be a school teacher in future.”

World Vision Bangladesh programme area Thakurgaon is working for the development and growth of 575 children through the ECCD programme with the support of community people and four partner NGOs.

Story and Photo by Jamal Uddin, Regional Communications Coordinator, Northern Bangladesh Region,World Vision Bangladesh