Australia assists education in a remote part of Bandarban
Deputy High Commissioner of Australia, Mr Tim Bolotnikoff, together with Bandarban local government officials,
representatives of the Thanchi Catholic Diocese, students of Shantiraj Primary School and community members
in front the school funded under Australia’s Direct Aid Program.
The Australian Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Tim Bolotnikoff, visited a school for underpreviliged ethnic minority children in Thanchi, Bandarban of the Chittagong Hill Tracts on 10 October 2012.
The Shantiraj Primary School was established with the support of Australia’s Direct Aid Program (DAP) for local children who lacked proper schooling facilities due to the remoteness of their location. The Shantiraj school, run by Thanchi Catholic Diocese, now provides education to 120 underpriviliged ethnic minority children in the area.
The Australian Deputy High Commissioner inspected the school buildings and met with the students and faculty members. He also attended a cultural programme organised by the school children. The Deputy High Commissioner was impressed by the efforts that had been made to get the school up and running and the quality of education being offered to the underprivileged ethnic children. During the programme, Mr Bolotnikoff said Australia’s support enabled the school to continue its efforts to provide education to children in a very remote area of Bangladesh.
The Deputy High Commissioner joins the school children in their classroom.
The Australian High Commission annually disburses up to AUD $210,000 or BDT 1.7 crore to local NGOs engaged in development activities in Bangladesh under the Direct Aid Program (DAP). In 2011-2012 DAP funds supported projects on: women’s empowerment through skill development; improved education facilities for children from slum areas; giving assistive devices to the disabled; and providing brail printing equipment to the blind.
Announcement for successful DAP projects for 2012-13 will be made in the coming months. Information on DAP funding can be found on the Australian High Commission’s website at: http://www.bangladesh.embassy.gov.au/daca/development_cooperat.html
Australian High Commission, Dhaka
16 October 2012
For further information please contact
Research and Communications Officer
Australian High Commission.
Tel: 8813105, Ext 413, E-mail: [email protected]