Active Mothers Forum amplified in 1,155 schools: Coordinators and Teachers pledge to strengthen transparency and accountability for improved delivery of education

Active Mothers Forum (AMF), a volunteer’s platform initiated by TI Bangladesh to strengthen governance in schools by engaging students’ mothers, has been amplified at 1,155 Government primary schools under Chandpur district in Bangladesh. When AMF will be introduced completely in all the schools, around 20,000 mothers of school-going children are expected to contribute in promoting disclosure and transparency in schools and holding the school authorities accountable. AMF encourages mothers to play an active role in their children’s education  in a participatory process. 

In the initial stage of implementation, 172 AMF Coordinators and 172 Head teachers of the respective schools under Upazilla Headquarter of Chandpur committed to improve transparency, accountability and quality in education. 

When TI Bangladesh inspired Committee of Concerned Citizens (CCC) Chandpur initiated the AMF in a school of Chandpur, it received positive response from the local community. Encouraged by AMF’s potential and initial feedback in strengthening governance, District Education Authority (DEA) of Chandpur issued office order on 25 October 2017 to introduce the AMF in all the schools under the district to ensure better delivery of education.

Subsequently, on 30 January 2019, TI Bangladesh and CCC Chandpur in cooperation with DEA organized an orientation programme at the premises of Hasan Ali Model Primary School in Chandpur to introduce AMF in the schools under Upazilla Headquarter.172 AMF coordinators have been oriented on their roles and responsibilities to ensure quality in education through strengthening transparency and accountability. 

The inaugural session was graced by the presence of Additional Superintendent of Police, District Primary education officer (DPEO), Upazila Education Officer (UEO), Assistant Commissioner Land, CCC president, Professor Monohor Ali, Convener of Education sub-committee, CCC and TI Bangladesh representatives.

The day-long programme was devised in 6 parallel sessions to enhance engagement with mothers. Mothers were accompanied by 172 Head Teachers of the respective schools. One special session was also designed to work out the teachers’ role to activate the Mothers forum. The participants committed to contribute their highest effort to improve the governance and quality of education in respective schools. An Anti-corruption cartoon exhibition and satellite Advice and Information desk (AI- desk) was also organised in the school premise for the students and others. 

AMF, also a useful process of woman participation and empowerment in the improvement of primary education, has been a growing tool among many other social accountability tools applied by Committees of Concern citizens (CCC) across the country to inform, motivate and mobilize citizens in challenging corruption and promoting integrity in service delivery at the local levels. 

--------------------