Bata Shoe Foundation's education support project launched

An education support project on the Literacy Portfolio and the Gender Equality Portfolio, funded by the Bata Shoe Foundation and implemented by Room to Read Bangladesh, was inaugurated on 13 August, 2026 at Ashraf Textile Mills High School in Gazipur, reports a press release.

Under the project, and in line with PEDP4, activities have been built in for grades one through five of primary school, including the establishment of child-friendly classroom libraries, the supply of leveled storybooks, teacher training, and the selection of “Book Captains” to support building students’ regular reading habits.

Initiatives will also be taken to raise school attendance and foster a reading culture at home, including read-play festivals, wall magazines, and parent meetings.

At the secondary level, alongside the formation of “Life-Skills Clubs” aimed at enabling students to make right decisions and progress into higher education, educational and learning materials have been distributed for club rooms, and teacher's guides and student workbooks have been supplied.

Training is also being arranged for teachers on Child Protection Policy (CPP), Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and Sexual Harassment Prevention Committee (SHPC), and there are plans to hold Family Fairs to strengthen family and community engagement.

As chief guest at the inauguration ceremony, Professor Zahida Nazneen, director (Planning and Development Wing) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, inaugurated the Life-Skills Club Room, distributed materials, and formally launched the project activities.

Special guests included Razia Sultana, HR manager and Bata Children's Program Lead (APAC); Md Mizanur Rahman, assistant director (Planning and Development Wing) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education; and Rakhi Sarkar, country director of Room to Read Bangladesh.

The event was chaired by Md Al Mamun Talukder, district education officer, Gazipur. A presentation on reading-habit development activities for children in primary schools was facilitated by Md Mazharul Karim, literacy director of Room to Read Bangladesh, and a presentation on life-skills development activities in secondary schools was facilitated by Iffat Zerin, Gender Equality Portfolio manager at Room to Read Bangladesh.

Speaking as a special guest, Razia Sultana, HR manager and Bata Children's Program Lead (APAC) said, “We are delighted to join this joint project with Room to Read. We are hopeful that it will help build a reading habit among children and help them become independent readers. At the same time, secondary students will gain the Life-Skills they need to continue their education.”

Speaking as a special guest, Rakhi Sarkar, country director of Room to Read Bangladesh, said, “Education is not just about passing exams or earning certificates; it is a process of learning to think, make sound decisions, and become a responsible citizen of society. Supported by the Bata Shoe Foundation, our Literacy and Gender Equality Portfolio is working to spread the joy of reading among children while building lifelong skills, leadership, and a safe learning environment in this school. I sincerely thank the Government of Bangladesh, school authorities, and teachers for their cooperation in this initiative.”

Professor Zahida Nazneen, chief guest of the event and Director (Planning and Development Wing) of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, said, “Today's children are our future. By building a habit of reading at the primary level and gaining Life-Skills at the secondary level, students will be able to make sound decisions about their own lives and grow into good citizens. Room to Read's books are playing a unique role in building children's reading habits. In this process, the role of “Book Captains” — who support classmates who are falling behind — and of aware parents, is extremely important.”

Md Al Mamun Talukder, chair of the event and District Education Officer, Gazipur, said in his remarks, “If we can create a joyful reading environment for students in schools, they will be encouraged to come to school on their own. For this, school authorities need to be more proactive, and the knowledge gained from Room to Read's training must be applied regularly in the classroom. I wish this education support project every success.”

Room to Read, an international development organisation, has been providing education support since 2009 with approval from the Directorate of Primary Education — aimed at achieving quality education at the primary level — and the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education — aimed at establishing educational equity at the secondary and higher-secondary levels.

It currently runs, with its own funding, activities to improve reading proficiency and build reading habits at the primary level in Natore, Narail, Dhaka, Moulvibazar, Jhalokati, Cox's Bazar, and Jamalpur, and, with USDA/WFP funding, in Habiganj.

Project-based activities are also being carried out with the Department of Public Libraries (DPL) in Narsingdi, Moulvibazar, and Cox's Bazar, and with the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) in Mymensingh.

To develop numeracy skills at the primary level, the development of supportive teaching-learning materials and teachers’ professional skills development activities also began in 2026.

Life-skills activities at the secondary school level, funded by Room to Read's own resources, are also ongoing in the first six districts named above.