VAB’s English Conversation Program between Rural and Urban Students:

 

VAB has successfully completed a program of conversation between university students and students of rural High Schools in Bangladesh. Twelve volunteers from University of Asia Pacific completed 240 minutes of conversation spread over ten weeks.

The Department of English headed by Professor Arjumand Ara arranged for a Certificate Award Event at the Conference Room of the Department on January 20, 2020. Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, National Professor and Vice Chancellor of the University distributed the certificate among the student volunteers. A number of students, Jannat, Alice, Anika, Raisa, Tania and Mehnaz, spoke of their experience; they expressed delight to have been a part of the program and expressed the view that the program was also instructional for them as well, in addition to being of benefit to the High School students.

The event was attended by Professor Arjumand Ara, Professor Mehnaz Chowdhury, Professor Zakia Ahmed and many of the teachers of the department. The Vice Chancellor who is also the Chairman of VAB’s Advisory Board encouraged the department to continue with the program. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Professor JasimuzZaman, Country Director of VAB.

The English Conversation Program was initiated by VAB as a part of its English Language Skill Development Drive, in an effort to remedy the alarming deficiency of rural high school students in English Speaking and Comprehension. The innovative and affordable program helps rural students in attaining these skills through telephone conversations with proficient students of urban universities.

VAB schools attained outstanding performance at the upazila (sub-district) level in the recently held 49^th Bangladesh National School and Madrasa Winter Sports Competition – 2019. The accomplishments of VAB schools spanned a wide array of diverse sports and athletic events in Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira disrict, and in a number of events, they swept the top positions. READ MORE

 

Most of the people and schools associated with VAB were safe from Cyclone ‘Bulbul’ which devastated part of the country’s coastal area in the southwest. However one school, Kathalbaria A G Secondary School in Shyamnagar of Satkhira district, was severely affected. The structures which house its classrooms were terribly damaged (see picture above). Classes are being held now under the open sky. The relatively new school performs remarkably in both curricular and co-curricular fields. In the upazila-level competition held by the Upazila Administration during the post-cyclone period when their school had to remain closed, its students became Champions in Debating and Runners-Up in Quiz.

 

Mr. Khondkar Morshed Millat, General Manager, Sustainable Finance Department of Bangladesh Bank handed over a check for 20 lac taka to Professor Dr. Jasimuz Zaman, Country Director of VAB.

VAB earlier submitted the half yearly report of the Sustainable Education Program of VAB being financed by Bangladesh Bank. The work involves a series of programs for strengthening student learning and competence as well as programs empowering teachers and engaging communities. The program is being successfully implemented in 25 schools covering clusters in Nilphamari Sadar (Nilphamari), Muradnagar (Cumilla), Bhangura (Pabna), Kashabpur (Jashore) and Shyamnagar (Satkhira).

The program had a total allocation of 45 lac taka. The current disbursement has been made after evaluation of the program and its expenditures during the first part of the project with 25 lac taka.

 

Khan Academy Teaching Resources for Rural High Schools

 

Agami Foundation, an International NGO with Head Office in USA offered three-day training on the use of Khan Academy resources for teaching Math at Natun Bazar High School, Nilphamari Sadar, Nilphamari on September 7 – 9. All fifteen Math teachers from fifteen schools of Nilphamari cluster took part in the training titled: Digital Skill Development Training.

Agami Foundation adapted Bangladesh curriculum in Khan Academy model of coverage of Math. The trainers demonstrated the Khan Academy method of covering different topics of Math. The teachers then conducted the coverage of the Math topics in a mock class room. The material can be accessed both on-line and off line. Because of slow and uncertain network at schools, off line access to Khan Academy program was installed in school computers.

Four trainers, Marjuk, Rashedul, Nurun Nahar and Sadia conducted the training. Abul Kalam Azad coordinated the program from VAB. The Headmaster of Natun Bazar High School, Mr. M. Ruhul Amin extended full cooperation to run the program

The teachers were responsive and promised to test out the method and provide feedback. Agami Foundation will respond to any difficulties and needs in successful implementation of the program.

The program was chalked out earlier between Ms. Dilruba Chowdhury, Director, Agami Foundation and Dr. Jasimuz Zaman, Country Director, VAB on February 11,2019 at Agami Foundation Office at Kalabagan, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.

On September 4 and 5, VAB hosted a Program on Computer Programming offered through an initiative by The Prothom Alo - Standard Chartered Bank. Twelve teachers from different schools took part in the Program which provides training on computer programming. This will be followed by site visit by representatives and volunteers of The Prothom Alo to induct the students into the Program.

This opens up a new frontier of opportunity for rural students. Students will work in teams with guidance from teachers and would be trained in computer programming. VAB has been successfully conducting a Computer Literacy Program for rural High School students for competence in Word, Excel, Power Point, Internet search, and Emailing. Over the last two years more than ten schools met the criteria of computer literacy of one hundred per cent of their students. Training in computer programming is a new area for rural High School students. Among other things, such training will enable them to compete in national competitions in programming in near future.

The Program was opened by Engr. Munir Hasan, a pioneer in organizing national competitions in Math, Science, Computer and Robotics. Young programmers working with Engr. Munir Hasan - Anik Humayun, Tahmid Rafi, Tarif Ejaz and Humayun Shakal - conducted different sessions of the workshop/training program in a participatory manner with hands-on practice by participants. The Country Director of VAB, Dr. Jasimuz Zaman, distributed the certificates to the participants.

 

VAB has launched a training program on English Learning in its pursuit of mitigating the awfully poor English Language Skills in rural High Schools. The program incorporates several innovative methods of training, with the main thrust that

·       Students need to learn English for their own interests,

·       Students can learn only through concerted practice.

 READ MORE

As part of English Language promotion program, VAB launched a telephone conversation program between urban and rural students. The program has been initiated with volunteers from East West University at Dhaka. Twenty six volunteers have been assigned to talk to twenty six high school students. Prior to the program, the Country Director addressed a group of students, primarily of the Department of English, at East West Campus and explained the program.