In an effort to improve quality of education, all educational institutions at primary, secondary and higher secondary level will be brought under multimedia classrooms in phases as part of introduction of ICT-based education to create skilled workforce in the country, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said.
“As many as 27,831 multimedia classrooms so far have been set at primary, secondary and higher secondary educational institutions and hopefully the remaining schools and colleges will get multimedia classrooms facilities soon,” he told a function at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) here on Tuesday.
Access to Information (a2i) Programme of PMO organized the function as multimedia classrooms stepped into its fourth year last month. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally opened the journey of multimedia classrooms on May 20, 2012 aiming to build a knowledge-based society.
Of the total, 23,331 multimedia classrooms have been set up at secondary and higher secondary levels while 4,500 schools at primary level have been brought under multimedia classrooms, Nahid said.
Digital contents are being developed by trained teachers to make topics of
textbooks easily understandable and attractive among young learners meaning
they are enjoying more in their learning process, he said, adding, “Nearly
80,000 teachers have been given training to develop the digital contents.”
“We are implementing a project for enhancing research and improving
digital connectivity at higher education to generate new knowledge….. After
establishing digital connectivity, students will learn from class lectures of
world’s leading universities,” Nahid added.
At the function, Primary and Mass Education Minister Advocate Mostifizur
Rahman said the education sector of the country has witnessed a remarkable
success in expansion of education, as nearly 99 percent student enrolment has
been achieved in primary education.
“But improving quality of education is the biggest challenge because
everybody is talking about the issue. I believe that utilization of
technology will enhance standard of education,” he added.
He said the use of digital content is a globally recognized method to
develop quality education as well as to make the teaching method easier and
interesting.
Education Secretary Md Nazrul Islam Khan, Primary and Mass Education
Secretary Mesbah Ul Alam and Project Director of a2i programme Kabir Bin
Anwar, among others, addressed the function.
Khan said multimedia classroom has changed the traditional teaching methods
as teachers are now using digital contents while giving class lectures, which
is more effective, interesting as well as easily understandable.
“Trained teachers are now developing digital contents….I hope it will be
prepared commercially very soon and any school can buy those contents for
their learners,” he added.
At the function, 10 district level officials were given multimedia
classroom award-2015 for their contribution to successful functioning of
multimedia classrooms and 34 teachers received awards in multimedia content
competition.
The a2i programme sources said digital contents are being uploaded on
teacher’s portal – teachers.gov.bd and as a result other teachers can use
those contents while taking their classes.
With around 60,000 members, the web portal has over 40,000 digital
contents, the sources added.
