As it is mentioned in earlier sections that UCEP students are not from regular school going children, it is important to know about the opinion of guardians in advancement and attentiveness of students to their lessons. Because of, students’ knowledge about course requirements for all pathways increased as grade levels increased. Teachers help students to plan for future planning. So, teachers’ knowledge about course requirements for the workplace and apprenticeships is greater among upper class teachers than middle class teachers. Parents/guardians appreciated the pathway planning support their child receive by way of career awareness courses and in-school programs, information received from teachers and the cooperative education program. It is found that most of parents/guardians felt their child was receiving adequate help at school to assist with planning his/her career/life pathway (Elana, Frank, Brown, & Bennett, 2009). They found that two-thirds of educators thought the career planning activities in their schools were adequate, and that alternative education programs were effective for students who struggled in regular classes. It is also found that teachers of higher classes were more positive than middle school teachers about the level of career/life planning support they could provide their students. From the following table it is found that 92.50 percent guardians expressed that their children’s attentiveness and advancement had increased in comparison with earlier time (Table 5.17).
Table 5.17
Students Advancement in Lessons According to Guardians
Opinion Frequency Percentage
Increased 37 92.50
Constant 2 5.00
Decreased 1 2.50
Total 40 100.00
Classroom Observation 1
Place : UCEP Technical School
Paba, Rajshahi
Name of the Trade : TISO (Tailoring & Industrial Swing Operation)
Shift : 2nd
Number of Students : 48 1st Semester
Batch: 16
: Total Students: 25 Present: 24 Absent: 01 2nd Semester
Batch: 15
: Total Students: 23 Present: 23 Number of Instructors : 4
Each Semester : 2
Classroom Size : It was a spacious room with wide windows, sufficient light and air
Description:
There were two categories of students in the class room. 50% of them were 1st semester and 50% were 2nd semester. Students of 1st semester were observing the training about dress cutting and swing. The students of 2nd semester were learning English language.
This session was about speaking, writing and conversation with each other in English.
UCEP arranges two such sessions in every month. They learn English to prepare themselves for job interview. Teachers were found very much cooperative with students.
The students were also very much attentive in the class.
From this classroom observation the researcher found an excellent adaptation of students with teachers and classroom environment. They were taught also on social awareness like avoid of early marriage, dowry, to lead a hygienic life style to be a self- dependent personal life.
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Classroom Observation 2
Place : UCEP Technical School
Paba, Rajshahi Name of the Class : SSC Vocational
Class : IX
Number of Students : 30 Number of Instructor : 1
Each Semester : 2
Classroom Size : It was a spacious room with wide windows, sufficient light and air
Description:
SSC Vocational is a part of UCEP program. The students who achieve the good result in class VIII UCEP gives them opportunity for higher study. Students of this course follow the SSC syllabus and attend the SSC examination under BTEB. After finishing the SSC UCEP also gives the students another opportunity to admit in the polytechnic institute.
SSC vocational is a very important part of UCEP program. There were 30 students in each class. Students were divided into 3 numbers in ten groups during learning session.
Learning process was different in that class. They were learning through discussing with one-another and teachers. Student-teacher relationship was found very friendly and harmonious.
Teacher was teaching on Bangladesh and global studies during the observation. The learning session was on AIDS and it was found that both the teacher and students were participating in a good learning environment. Important to note that the session was conducted in English. It was found that the students could understand easily about the causes, prevention and effects of AIDS. After finishing the discussion the teacher asked many questions individually and they answered without any hesitation.
From this classroom observation it was found that there an excellent relationship between the teacher and students prevailed in UCEP teaching-learning system. Their adaptation level was also appreciating. UCEP students were found very confident to participate in a very sensitive issue like AIDS. They could learn English also in the Bangla medium class.
From the above discussion, we can say that UCEP students have a nice adaptation with school and curriculum. They have good relationship with UCEP school as well as with their teachers. Most of them identified their curriculum was enough for them and played
important role to get jobs. UCEP students were well acquainted with their curriculum.
Chapter Six
Impact of UCEP Curriculum to Raise the Socio- Economic Condition
6.1 Prelude
Underprivileged Children’s Educational Program (UCEP) provides and designated a number of educational and vocational programs for the underprivileged street children to raise their socio-economic condition. Starting in 1972, thousands of distressed working children have taken education and training from different UCEP schools located in all over the country. UCEP provides a package service of Integrated General and Vocational Education (IGVE), Technical Education (TE) and Employment Support Services (ESS) along with various aspects of child rights, good governance and social life skills to the working children. UCEP operates 53 Integrated General & Vocational (IGV) Schools and 10 Technical Schools in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Barisal, Rangpur, Sylhet Metropolitan City and in Gazipur District with an enrolment of about 45 thousand distress working children.
UCEP runs a number of programs for its students. The mission of these programs is to raise the socio-economic condition of the urban poor to a level which will enable them to effectively participate in national development. The important programs are: General Education, Technical Education (TE), Para-trade Training (PT), Employment & Field Services (EFS), Employment Support Services (ESS), Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) credit program, Overseas Employment Scheme, UCEP Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Child and Women Right Advocacy (CWRA) etc.