Though still comparatively rural, Bangladesh has an urban population of about 35 million, or just over 25 percent[1] of its total population. And this number is increasing day by day. This rapid growth has been due primarily to migration by the rural poor, particularly to large metropolitan areas. On arrival, these poor migrants routinely turn to slums and squatter settlements for shelter. All major urban centres in Bangladesh have slums, but the largest concentrations are in Dhaka city.
In Bangladesh, slums are generally illegally located on land belonging to the government, semi-governmental units, public organizations and other organizations. The socioeconomic status of this community is defined by low income, with the majority, or over 50 percent, of households having income below the poverty level of Tk. 5,000 per month, the majority of the labour force in informal sector occupations (e.g. rickshaw pullers, hawkers, domestic workers, etc.) or very low paying formal sector positions (in organizations ranging from factories to offices) and low levels of rent.
Slums have existed in Dhaka City for a long time but their growth accelerated after the liberation of the country in 1971, mainly due to mass migration by the rural poor. The quality of housing is one of the most basic indicators characterising slum settlements. The majority of slum houses (56%) in the six cities were of very poor quality (weak and temporary structures or kutcha units), while another 42.4 percent were semi-pucca type. A very small proportion (1.1%) was dilapidated older buildings, while only 0.5 percent was good quality homes. More than 93% of slums were reported to have very high population density and very poor environmental services, and 85% had very poor housing conditions.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Bangladesh experienced strong urban economic growth, a reduction in poverty rates, and rapid growth in primary school enrolments. Amongst many factors, these changes are linked to Bangladesh’s growing involvement in the global economy, especially in the form of garment factories, and conscious efforts by its government to increase enrolments through its primary education plans
According to an UNESCO report, education figures for slums in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka are among the worst in the South-Asian County. The report entitled, “Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2010, Reaching And Marginalized”, which was launched in January from the UN Headquarters in New York, revealed schools run by non-governmental organizations play and important function in slums in Dhaka. Childhood immunization in Dhaka slum households has been reported at (51-76) %. In the survey 89% reported childhood immunization, though records for each child were not polled. The rate of substance use and gambling is very alarming. The research is about how families in slums make decisions about schooling, how these decisions related to their economic, social and migration background, and to their aspirations and expectations concerning their children’s futures
[1] Data used in this paper are taken from the study titled Urban slums of Bangladesh, conducted by Professor Nazrul Islam et. all, the Daily Star, 20-06-2009
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