YWCA Bangladesh places education at the centre of its development work through formal and free schools as well as daycare facilities. We focus on the mental, social, and physical well-being of children, ensuring a holistic approach to quality education. By nurturing young minds, we prepare them to step into adulthood with confidence and contribute positively to their families and communities.

Child education through schooling is a core program of YWCA. Early Child Development (ECD) encompasses physical, socio-emotional, cognitive, and motor development between 0-8 years of age (According to World Health Organization -WHO). The early years are critical, because this is the period in life when the brain develops most rapidly and has a high capacity for change, and the foundation is laid for health and well-being throughout life. Inclusive education is one dimension of a rights-based quality education that emphasizes equity in access and participation and responds positively to the individual learning needs and competencies of all children. Inclusive education is child-centered and places the responsibility of adaptation on the education system rather than the individual child. Inclusive education provides a stable environment that is sensitive to children’s health and nutritional needs, with protection from threats, opportunities for early learning, and interactions that are responsive, emotionally supportive, and developmentally stimulating – is at the heart of children’s potential to develop.

The YWCA school program is appreciated and acknowledged by children, parents, and stakeholders. A good number of remarkable qualitative achievements have been made through YWCA’s schooling approach (formal and free schooling) enabling students to develop their skills of articulation, creative thinking, social norms, and moral discipline. They participated in different events and organized several Co-curricular activities like debates, cultural programs, drawing competitions, annual sports, and observance of different national and international days where they played prominent roles. During the COVID period, YWCA ran through the education program online via Zoom and continued communication with students and parents through FB messenger and Whatsapp. This achievement has given the program a brand image.

To uphold this brand image and address the thematic philosophy of rights and comply with SDGs, members, and stakeholders of YWCA have expressed their great desire to adopt the approach of inclusiveness and early child development. Thus, the strategic plan 2023-2028 embeds strategies for ensuring the inclusivity of children irrespective of gender, language, ability, religion, nationality, or other characteristics in ‘participation and benefit from quality education and child development services through formal and free schools and daycare facilities. During SP 2023-2028, YWCA will focus on the mental, social, and physical aspects of quality education which will contribute immensely to the development of young minds as they step into adulthood and bring positive changes into life through their education program.

Objectives

• To provide inclusive education to the children to develop literacy, numeracy, intellectual ability, creativity, and human qualities.
• To introduce Early Child Development (ECD) in schooling and daycares.

Outcomes

• Affiliated children/children are intellectually capable, and creative and embrace human qualities through a quality education approach.
• Quality learning environment is ensured to promote safe learning in the formal and non-formal education system.

Actions

• Apply extra-curricular activities, and club activities for the intellectual and creative development of children.
• Increase sections in education centers that have more students than current capacity and appoint a proportionate number of teachers.
• Advocate and provide for a gender-sensitive, safe, non-violent, inclusive, and effective learning environment.
• Develop capacities of the teaching staff on quality education approach, addressing special education for the children with special needs and regular monitoring to improve teaching qualities, etc.
• Review the curriculum of the free school and incorporate quality education and ECD approach, methodologies, and relevant materials.
• Introduce counseling for parents-students and support parents to develop parenting skills for ensuring a learner-friendly home environment.
• Follow and implement the Child Safety Policy in schools.

Achievements 

Education plays a vital role in a country’s socio-economic progress. A rights-based approach to quality education ensures inclusive access, active participation, and the development of essential skills tailored to children’s needs. Since 1980, the YWCA has been committed to providing a safe, structured, and values-driven learning environment for children. Every year, approximately 12,000 children and adolescents enroll in YWCA schools across 12 institutions countrywide to receive quality education.

At YWCA School, we believe in nurturing well-rounded individuals through a balanced focus on academics, creativity, leadership, and personal development. Our students regularly participate in a wide range of competitions and events, gaining recognition at local, national, and international levels. The achievements highlighted below reflect their hard work, dedication, and the supportive learning environment we strive to provide. Throughout 2024, YWCA School students actively engaged in a variety of academic, creative, and extracurricular events—earning recognition at both local and national levels. Their achievements reflect a year of growth, excellence, and well-rounded development.