Sweeping
Performance of VAB Schools in Sports
VAB schools attained outstanding performance at the
upazila (sub-district) level in the recently held 49th 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
Relief Needed for VAB Schools Severely Damaged by Cyclone 'Bulbul'
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.
Kathalbaria’s dynamic and fairly young
Headmaster, Mr. Md. Azaharul Islam appealed for relief to the local
Administration and philanthropists everywhere. VAB wholeheartedly supports this appeal,
and requests generous patrons to make contributions for the relief efforts. You
can click on the “Donate” button and make your donation via Paypal. On behalf
of Kathalbaria’s distressed students, we thank you in advance.
VAB receives check from Bangladesh Bank
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.
VAB’s Annual Board Meeting Takes Landmark Decisions
Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB), an expatriate-led Charity, headquartered in New York promoting quality education for rural students in Bangladesh, held the 21st Annual Meeting of its Board of Directors on November 3, 2019 in Jamaica, NY. VAB, pronounced as “VAAB”, worked over the last 20 years in 150 high schools in 17 districts assisting more than 300,000 high school students. READ MORE
VAB Meets
with Representatives of Synergos
A meeting took place on 17 October, 2019 between
representatives of US-based non-profit Synergos and VAB officials. A brief
presentation on the work of Synergos was followed by presentation on VAB with stimulating
discussion on VAB programs and a productive exchange of ideas. READ MORE
Expatriates
Support VAB in Awarding Scholarships
Recent initiatives of
generosity by a group of Bangladeshi expatriates in Australia are helping VAB
overcome some of its resource limitations and are enabling it to award
scholarships to additional students in rural Bangladesh. Since 2017, this
group, led by Engr. Aminur Rahman and his wife Mrs. Zobeda Rahman, funded the
educational expenses of 35 high school students and 7 college students. READ
MORE … 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.
New Window of Opportunity for Rural High Schools
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.
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.
Apala Biswas and Farhana Islam, lecturers in
the department, did a very commendable job in organizing the meeting. Seven or
eight members of other teachers also joined. Tasnuva Marium, a student of
English department, aptly conducted the meeting. The Country Director expressed
great satisfaction to see about 50 students opting to hear about volunteering.
He also expressed his gratefulness and appreciation to the Vice Chancellor and
the Head of English Department for their support and encouragement.