A day long trainers training workshop for the teachers, trainers, mentors, and volunteers to skill up them for a transformative future at CSS Ava Center, 82 Rupsha Strand Road, Khulna, on 18th July 2023.
The title of the training was “Train the Trainers - Skilling Teachers, Trainers, Mentors, and Volunteers for a Transformative Future”. The motive is to accelerate the project activities of STEM & ICT Skills for Girls of Coastal Area of Bangladesh (SISGCA) project. Teachers of the project schools, Upazilas Education officers, subject experts, educational personnel, volunteers, and project staff participated in the workshop. Teachers from 4 interested educational institutions participated in the workshop too. The workshop consisted of informative presentations, interactive sessions, and group discussions, allowing participants to enhance their understanding and exchange valuable insights.
The Malala Fund funds SISGCA, and in association with Bangladesh Open-Source Network (BdOSN), Bangladesh Freedom Foundation is implementing this project. This project is being implemented in three coastal Upazilas- Rupsha (Khulna), Tala (Shatkhira), and Rampal (Bagerhat). The two-year-long project aims to reduce the digital gap among secondary school girls (grades 6 to 8) and bring positive change among girls and community people regarding STEM education and ICT career for girls by creating awareness.
The workshop was started with a welcome note by Munir Hasan, General Secretary, BdOSN. Then Shakhira Afroz, Project Lead, SISGCA, briefed the project objectives and goals. Momlum Sabir Ahmed, Managing Director of Computer Services Limited, emphasized girls’ participation in digital presence.
After a snack break, the subject experts shared the method of curriculum, e.g., Science, Mathematics, Programming, and Robotics.
i)Science - methodology was briefed by Sifat Sarker, Academic Team member, SPSB. Students will learn basic science with hands-on activities.
ii)Programming - methodology was briefed by Mosaraf Hossain Tipu, Coordinator, NHSPC(National High School Programming Contest). Students will have a basic foundation in programming.
iii) Turab Haque, Coordinator, BdMO(Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad), briefed mathematics methodology. The motive is to strengthen the basics and eliminate the fair on problem-solving.
iv)Robotics - methodology was briefed by Maherul Azam Koreshi, Coordinator WRO(World Robotics Olympiad). He ensured that the beneficiary students will able to make robots and mini projects with the JRC board by themselves.
Then the teachers, volunteers, and USEOs took participation in an open discussion. Aloke Kumar Tarafdar, Head Teacher, Shahid Ali Ahamad Govt Girls High School, Tala, Satkhira - suggested arranging meetings with guardians to share these methods. S.A. Anower-Ul Quddus, USEO, Rampal- stated that if these programs would run successfully, the students become more confident and conquer every state of their life.
Munir Hasan, General Secretary, BdOSN, concluded the workshop by giving remarks and thanks to everyone.