DHAKA: One of most significant of Grameen Bank members’ 16 decisions is the decision they undertake to educate their children.

Through this decision taken by millions of Grameen’s borrowers, 100 percent of the children of GB families are in school. Many of them are going on to further studies and excelling in their chosen fields.

In recent years, there is an exciting development that the children of Grameen Bank borrowers who have successfully completed their higher secondary or undergraduate study are getting scholarships to pursue higher studies in various prestigious institutions around the world facilitated, by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. More than 50 students have secured scholarships to pursue studies in various fields around the world.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) scholarships

Among the top scholarship winners are four students from the Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing. The top three students who graduated this year have won scholarships to pursue their higher studies at the Glasgow Caledonian University.

The students are Rokeya Akter Bristy,  Popi Rani Bhowmik and Satu Mondal. Another young woman Mr Rofiqun Nesa Tuli was awarded special scholarship provided by the CEO of Bangladeshi origin of a US-based multinational company.

The scholarship will cover their course fees, accommodation and subsistence, including travel to and from Bangladesh. The students will pursue BSc in Nursing, which is a post-basic course that will give them the opportunity to study nursing at an advance level.

All of these students completed their diploma in nursing from Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing which opened its doors for the first time in March 1, 2010 which was established through the partnership between Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland and the Grameen Healthcare Trust (GHT) and  Grameen Health Care Services Ltd (GHS).

The College aims to develop nursing and midwifery standards in Bangladesh to an international level through the provision of the highest quality education and research. The first 38 students graduated with diploma in 2013, and have all found good nursing jobs in various hospitals and institutions in Bangladesh.

Rokeya Akhter Bristy who stood first, comes from a rural low income family with both her parents working in low paid jobs. Her parents were always supportive and wanted her to get a good education.

Due to her passion of caring for people, she was fully determined to find the right career for her. She decided she could make her dream come through a career in nursing. Fortunately, her mother was a member of Grameen Bank  and this made her eligible to receive the education loan from Grameen Bank, which can be paid back in easy and manageable installments It was therefore possible for her to join GCCN.

Popi, who came second in her class, was born into a rural low income family with her father being the only earning member and was very difficult for her father to bear all educational expenses for his children.

From an early age, Popi showed great academic potential and consequently, she was awarded a scholarship from Grameen Bank in class eight and won a junior scholarship from Dhaka Board in class nine. She achieved GPA 5(A+), for her SSC and was awarded further scholarships from Grameen Kalyan and the Dutch Bangla Bank. She had wanted to become a doctor but for a number of reasons, she believed nursing would be the ideal profession for helping people in her village.

Satu who came in third in her graduating class was also born into a low income in the village Dhitpur of Munshigonj. Her father was a carpenter and the only income earner in the family.  

Her father died in 2010 right before her admission to GCCN but had been committed to the education of his children. In order to assist to help her family, Satu used to teach children in order to pay for her own academic expenses. She achieved GPA 4.56(A) for her SSC and then 4.9(A) for her HSC. As a result of her outstanding achievements, she was awarded a scholarship from Grameen Shikkha which was extended following her excellence in HSC.

Rafiqun Nesa received special scholarship award also comes from a rural low income family with her father doing a small business. It was really difficult for her to continue study along with two other school going younger sisters. However, her parents were always supportive and wanted her to get a good education and achieve a good result and they were ready to do anything for her bright future.

She achieved GPA 5 (A+) in SSC and then 4.5 (A) for her HSC. Rafiqan entered the essay competition competing for the opportunity to go to the Global Social Business Summit in Vienna with Professor Yunus. She won the top prize and while she was in Vienna   she so impressed the audience with her composure and ability to confidently speak in public that she was promised a scholarship for her further studies

All four were admitted to GCCN. Initially they faced challenges because the medium of teaching was English and required good computer and other technical skills. However all of them developed quickly the skills required to do well, and eventually excel in their nursing studies. They worked hard and successfully completed their Diploma in Nursing Science and Midwifery in 2013.

In addition to these four outstanding girls, a number of other girls from Grameen families have been able to go abroad for further study.  After meetings with Professor Yunus in Malaysia, Taylor’s University of Malaysia committed to select two deserving candidates from Grameen families to receive full scholarship covering tuition fees, accommodation, travel to and from Bangladesh as well as monthly multi-stipends. This year two students named Suraiya Sharmeen and Kausar Parveen Nipa have been selected for this scholarship will pursue Bachelor of Business ( Hons) International Business and Marketing at Taylor University.

The Scottish scholarships and the Malaysian scholarships follow existing scholarship programs including the Khazanah Asia Scholarship Programme which was established in 2007 after Professor Yunus delivered the Khazanah Global Lecture at the Khazanah Foundation.

The Foundation has awarded 5 scholarships every year to the children of Grameen families under this programme starting in 2009. A total of 17 students of GB families received the scholarship. Similar programs have been established with Ewha Women University, Seoul, Korea and Asian University for Women in Chittagong especially for the children of Grameen Bank families. (Press release)

BDST: 2015 HRS, SEP 05, 2013
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