The most famous example of a community initiative which has expanded beyond the wildest dreams of its founders is that of the BRAC schools in Bangladesh. In 1985 it began its educational programme with 22 experimental schools. In the first five years it opened over 6,000 schools, mainly for the children of the poor and the landless. And Sayeeda Anis, a BRAC programme officer, hopes that by 1998 there will be 100,000. Around 70 per cent of the children are girls, part of a deliberate policy to encourage girls' education.
Classes are small, and the timetable and school year fit in with the farming seasons.
So far over 90 per cent of BRAC's pupils have gone on to join the national primary education system. Most of these children would never normally have gone to school. BRAC exemplifies five key elements for successful education. It is affordable. It is accessible, so that parents do not fear to send their girl children and the journey is not arduous.