Habibul Haider Chowdhury :
The 4th goal out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals declared by UNO is very much related to basic education. This goal suggests development of an environment for inclusive and equitable quality education by 2030.
There may be some convincing arguments whether this goal is achievable at all, yet cannot be ignored as unattainable. The timeframe declared for implementation of the targets relevant to the goal has just begun. I would like to propound and share some of my ideas relevant to the issue as this a vital focus to ponder.
1) Pool of Teachers – An attempt should be made to form a pool of teachers for each defined work area. The teachers of this pool will provide necessary support to all other teachers of the area in enhancing their quality of teaching and effectively using the teaching aids. Local teachers’ associations need to be involved in this plan. This pool will be given appropriate training on techniques of managing class room environment and using teaching aids to be developed to help visual learning.
2.) Chapter Coordinator – Each Upazila should be declared as ‘Chapter (work area)’ and I emphasize on using one or more local NGOs to coordinate the overall executions of the plan. Each of these NGOs will be treated as ‘Chapter Coordinator.’ Chapter Coordinators will arrange for necessary training programs and workshops based on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) concept with the help of the pool of teachers formed for the purpose.
3) Chapter Member – Each local Primary School, Secondary and Higher Secondary School/College, Vocational Institution and Madrasa (Alia) will be treated as ‘Chapter Member’ and head of these institutions will be called ‘Chapter Member Representative.’ Chapter Members will be the beneficiaries of the program. Chapter Coordinator of respective area will coordinate the program in the Chapter and make liaison with the Chapter Members. Chapter Member Representatives will meet once in three months period to discuss the progress and inherent difficulties in implementing the programme.
4) Stakeholders Forum – There will be a ‘Stakeholders’ Forum’ for each Chapter under the leadership of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) who will look after the interest of the stakeholders in the concerned Chapter. Upazila Parishad Chairman, Union Parishad Chairmen, Upazila Primary Education Officer, Upazila Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Officer, Representatives of Upazila Teachers Associations, local NGO representatives and other dignified persons of the work area will be the members of this Forum. The Forum will be open for all. Any persons interested to contribute to the development of education in the Chapter including the researchers of the area may be included as a member.
5) Evaluation of the Progress – There will be a ‘Progress and Quality Evaluation Committee’ formed with open minded scholars and teachers (including retired teachers) in national level. This committee will appropriately guide the ‘Chapter Evaluation Committee’ as to the methods and techniques of evaluation to be employed. Chapter Coordinator will maintain the office of the Chapter Evaluation Committee and extend its help to the Committee where necessary.
6) Involvement of Upazila Resource Centre – This will be rather meaningful had we involved URC to this program. The Chapter Coordinator may use URC for any training help and use their available facilities.
7) Funding – Funding is a big issue for successfully implementing a program. Usually, the government and the donor agencies play a pivotal role in financing a project. I suggest using Bangladesh NGO Foundation (BNF), an autonomous body of Ministry of Finance through which organization all finances of this program may be controlled, administered and monitored. By this process, financial activities will be in true sense under control of the government. Chapter Coordinators will be beneficiaries of this program and be authorized to utilize this fund.
Sustainable Development Goal-4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all” focuses predominantly on learning outcomes and cognitive skills that are the basic need and right of a human being and goes beyond school attendance and enrolment. The goal views education as a tool of productivity and skill rather than making a confident person. Our Government should take a realistic step by undertaking a ‘government and non-government participatory plan’ where control should be with the government as facilitator and execution with the NGOs working long side by side with the government to build educational infrastructure of the country. Stakeholders’ participation in the implementation process will help accelerating the execution of implementation plan by making awareness of social responsibility of the community people.
The above idea may be a unique and effectively deployable participatory model for the whole country. The term sustainability means ensuring economic and environmental durability. For this, overall plan needs to be supported by a national policy level coordination between our basic needs such as economic, social and environmental needs.
I took such an experience in Senbag upazila, Noakhali on January 1, 2016. I was an instructor of a two-days long English Language training workshop of local teachers from 20 high schools and 3 madrasas, which was an outstanding initiative towards SDG – 4 goal, and may be an exemplary event. The especially of that program was the enthusiastic participation of the stakeholders that is, NGO-Government- Local Government – Educational Institutions. Bangladesh NGO Foundation funded the program and a local NGO named Munshi Atar Ali Welfare Society (MAAWS pronounced Moss) organized the program. All others other stakeholders came forward to make it a success. Upazila Secondary Education Officer took initiative himself by selecting the participating institutions for the program. Senbag Upazila Chairman, Kabilpur Union Parishad Chairman, MAAWS Chairman and Upazila Secondary Education Officer participated in the program. New English teaching methodology ‘HAQEL’ with its teaching aids: lesson cards and concept cards and their use were explained. Had we implemented the model on pilot basis, a clear demonstration may be seen. MAAWS is already on its way to form the model in Senbag Upazila. The UNO, Upazila Teachers Association, Upzila Chairman, Upazila Secondary Education Officer confirmed their all-out support to this initiative.
To get an expected result, we need to produce good teachers for grooming our students to right direction. I emphasise we should make good teachers in English language so that we can put our steps comfortably on this globalized world and make ourselves competitive.
We need a healthy and educated nation. To be a middle income country we need an integrated participatory program for our health, education and all our basic need. Let’s try out and make our life a heavenly one. Come forward and make chapter in your Upazila. We should be aware of our social responsibility and some has to take initiative. n
The 4th goal out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals declared by UNO is very much related to basic education. This goal suggests development of an environment for inclusive and equitable quality education by 2030.
There may be some convincing arguments whether this goal is achievable at all, yet cannot be ignored as unattainable. The timeframe declared for implementation of the targets relevant to the goal has just begun. I would like to propound and share some of my ideas relevant to the issue as this a vital focus to ponder.
1) Pool of Teachers – An attempt should be made to form a pool of teachers for each defined work area. The teachers of this pool will provide necessary support to all other teachers of the area in enhancing their quality of teaching and effectively using the teaching aids. Local teachers’ associations need to be involved in this plan. This pool will be given appropriate training on techniques of managing class room environment and using teaching aids to be developed to help visual learning.
2.) Chapter Coordinator – Each Upazila should be declared as ‘Chapter (work area)’ and I emphasize on using one or more local NGOs to coordinate the overall executions of the plan. Each of these NGOs will be treated as ‘Chapter Coordinator.’ Chapter Coordinators will arrange for necessary training programs and workshops based on Continuing Professional Development (CPD) concept with the help of the pool of teachers formed for the purpose.
3) Chapter Member – Each local Primary School, Secondary and Higher Secondary School/College, Vocational Institution and Madrasa (Alia) will be treated as ‘Chapter Member’ and head of these institutions will be called ‘Chapter Member Representative.’ Chapter Members will be the beneficiaries of the program. Chapter Coordinator of respective area will coordinate the program in the Chapter and make liaison with the Chapter Members. Chapter Member Representatives will meet once in three months period to discuss the progress and inherent difficulties in implementing the programme.
4) Stakeholders Forum – There will be a ‘Stakeholders’ Forum’ for each Chapter under the leadership of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) who will look after the interest of the stakeholders in the concerned Chapter. Upazila Parishad Chairman, Union Parishad Chairmen, Upazila Primary Education Officer, Upazila Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Officer, Representatives of Upazila Teachers Associations, local NGO representatives and other dignified persons of the work area will be the members of this Forum. The Forum will be open for all. Any persons interested to contribute to the development of education in the Chapter including the researchers of the area may be included as a member.
5) Evaluation of the Progress – There will be a ‘Progress and Quality Evaluation Committee’ formed with open minded scholars and teachers (including retired teachers) in national level. This committee will appropriately guide the ‘Chapter Evaluation Committee’ as to the methods and techniques of evaluation to be employed. Chapter Coordinator will maintain the office of the Chapter Evaluation Committee and extend its help to the Committee where necessary.
6) Involvement of Upazila Resource Centre – This will be rather meaningful had we involved URC to this program. The Chapter Coordinator may use URC for any training help and use their available facilities.
7) Funding – Funding is a big issue for successfully implementing a program. Usually, the government and the donor agencies play a pivotal role in financing a project. I suggest using Bangladesh NGO Foundation (BNF), an autonomous body of Ministry of Finance through which organization all finances of this program may be controlled, administered and monitored. By this process, financial activities will be in true sense under control of the government. Chapter Coordinators will be beneficiaries of this program and be authorized to utilize this fund.
Sustainable Development Goal-4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all” focuses predominantly on learning outcomes and cognitive skills that are the basic need and right of a human being and goes beyond school attendance and enrolment. The goal views education as a tool of productivity and skill rather than making a confident person. Our Government should take a realistic step by undertaking a ‘government and non-government participatory plan’ where control should be with the government as facilitator and execution with the NGOs working long side by side with the government to build educational infrastructure of the country. Stakeholders’ participation in the implementation process will help accelerating the execution of implementation plan by making awareness of social responsibility of the community people.
The above idea may be a unique and effectively deployable participatory model for the whole country. The term sustainability means ensuring economic and environmental durability. For this, overall plan needs to be supported by a national policy level coordination between our basic needs such as economic, social and environmental needs.
I took such an experience in Senbag upazila, Noakhali on January 1, 2016. I was an instructor of a two-days long English Language training workshop of local teachers from 20 high schools and 3 madrasas, which was an outstanding initiative towards SDG – 4 goal, and may be an exemplary event. The especially of that program was the enthusiastic participation of the stakeholders that is, NGO-Government- Local Government – Educational Institutions. Bangladesh NGO Foundation funded the program and a local NGO named Munshi Atar Ali Welfare Society (MAAWS pronounced Moss) organized the program. All others other stakeholders came forward to make it a success. Upazila Secondary Education Officer took initiative himself by selecting the participating institutions for the program. Senbag Upazila Chairman, Kabilpur Union Parishad Chairman, MAAWS Chairman and Upazila Secondary Education Officer participated in the program. New English teaching methodology ‘HAQEL’ with its teaching aids: lesson cards and concept cards and their use were explained. Had we implemented the model on pilot basis, a clear demonstration may be seen. MAAWS is already on its way to form the model in Senbag Upazila. The UNO, Upazila Teachers Association, Upzila Chairman, Upazila Secondary Education Officer confirmed their all-out support to this initiative.
To get an expected result, we need to produce good teachers for grooming our students to right direction. I emphasise we should make good teachers in English language so that we can put our steps comfortably on this globalized world and make ourselves competitive.
We need a healthy and educated nation. To be a middle income country we need an integrated participatory program for our health, education and all our basic need. Let’s try out and make our life a heavenly one. Come forward and make chapter in your Upazila. We should be aware of our social responsibility and some has to take initiative. n
(Habibul Haider Chowdhury is an author, researcher and also developer of HAQEL English Teaching
Methodology and Teaching Aids)
