spend their lives excluded from mainstream society. Mobile Schooling is an
appropriate education methodology for street children. The primary object
of the mobile school concept is to socialize the street children at different
city points with a systematic program of basic literacy and life oriented non-
formal education. By expanding the non-formal education program through
mobile schooling development, it is expected that a large number of street
children could be prodded into positive action. This humanitarian concept
professes to inculcate among the non-privileged children lessons of good
and civilized community life. It express a strong desire to do something
meaningful about these non-privileged groups who do not obtain access to
even non-formal educational facilities. Street children constitute non-
privileged groups falling far apart so far as non-formal primary education is
concerned. The new method calls for pragmatic perspectives with timely
operational strategies specific to the needs of the vulnerable. Its
implementation with a revised out-reach approach is capable of producing
results. Mobile school is expected to turn non-formal educational policies
into effective situational practice.
4. Easy Pump Water Supply System: Pumping Safe Water is child’s
play
Md. Zillur Rahman, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Programme Advisor, Plan
Bangladesh
The water and sanitation condition in the primary schools of Bangladesh is
dreadfully poor. A baseline survey under School Sanitation and Household
Hygiene Education (SSHHE) conducted by Plan Bangladesh in 2007 revealed
that 50% of primary schools did not have the provision of functional and
child-friendly safe water sources. The water supply technology installed in
schools is called “No. 6 Hand Pump” or “Deep Set Pump.” The physical
structure and hand operating mechanism of these pumps are not
appropriate for children of primary school age; the pump handle is too high
to be handled by children and requires the application of substantial
strength to operate. Often, the tube well is found out of order. The pumping
mechanism of the Easy Pump provides a source of entertainment for
children since the pump is designed as a see-saw. The oscillation of the pump
piston ejects clean water pumped from an underground aquifer into an
overhead tank which stands over the roof of the school. A simple faucet at
the school latrine, a drinking water corner and wash basin are connected
with the overhead tank, making it easy for children to draw water. Since
2009, about 14,850 students and faculty have been benefitting from the
installation of 50 Easy Pumps at the primary schools. The pump is cost-
effective and economical, installation cost is comparatively low and little
30 4th National Knowledge Convention