Standard Chartered, CAMPE launch ‘Shikhya Shurokkha’ to curb dropout and strengthen rural education

Standard Chartered Bangladesh and the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE) have signed an agreement to launch Shikhya Shurokkha, a community-based initiative aimed at reducing school dropout rates, providing access to online learning resources, and improving learning outcomes in rural and marginalized areas across Bangladesh.

This partnership will support more than 8,000 students from socio-economically disadvantaged families, with a focus on girls and children from remote, climate-vulnerable, and indigenous communities across 80 primary and secondary schools nationwide, according to a media release. 

The program will also build local capacity by training teachers, parents and community facilitators, ensuring that progress continues beyond the project’s duration.

Under this collaboration, Standard Chartered Bangladesh is donating 30 laptops to CAMPE to establish digital libraries in 10 selected schools, introducing low-cost, innovative access to learning materials in areas such as Khagrachhari, Bhola, Naogaon, and Gaibandha. These digital libraries will serve as vital community learning hubs that enable teachers and students to access educational resources, bridge learning gaps and promote digital inclusion in underserved areas. They will complement other interventions such as book corners, reading sessions and extracurricular learning clubs, designed to enhance literacy, creativity and participation.

The initiative will also provide essential learning materials and warm clothing to 8,000 students. Simultaneously, the initiative aims to reduce absenteeism among adolescent girls through ensuring the availability of menstrual hygiene kits in 24 schools. Through this holistic approach, Shikhya Shurokkha aims not only to keep children in school but also to improve their overall well-being and readiness to learn. More than 4,000 parents, teachers, and local leaders will be mobilised through community campaigns addressing school enrolment, child marriage prevention, and girls’ education.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, “Education is the foundation of opportunity, yet too many children, especially in rural Bangladesh, still face barriers that force them out of school. Through Shikhya Shurokkha, a landmark initiative co-created by Standard Chartered and CAMPE, we are combining community engagement, access to wider canvas of digital resources and targeted educational support to reach 8,000 learners in their tender age, to stay in school and thrive. Partnership with CAMPE allows us to reach the most vulnerable communities, and together, we aim to build a model that strengthens both access to education and accountability. This initiative reflects our enduring commitment to inclusion and to create pathways for a more equitable future.”

Rasheda K. Choudhury, Executive Director, CAMPE, said, “The Partnership between CAMPE and Standard Chartered Bangladesh, with a focus on reaching under-privileged students in remote areas is expected to make qualitative difference in the learning efforts of those students. This initiative is going to introduce no - cost innovative access to learning materials using digital library in the rapidly changing teaching-learning processes. This is expected to address the inequalities among students regarding access to such facilities. Both the partners believe that the challenges may be huge but not unsurmountable. The dedicated teams of Standard Chartered and CAMPE hope to work together for achieving the goal of quality with equity in education.”