STEM & ICT Skills for the Girls of Coastal Area (SISGCA) project, funded by the MALALA Fund in association with BdOSN, conducted Mathematics-1 and Programming-1 sessions on 31 October 2023 at Ratan Sen Collegiate Girls' School, Rupsha, Khulna (Batch-2). The project aims to bridge the educational gap, particularly in science and information technology, and empower girls who face challenges in pursuing higher education due to various social reasons.
34 enthusiastic female students from classes 6 to 8 actively participated in the sessions, showcasing a keen interest in expanding their knowledge and skills in mathematics and programming. The initiative seeks to reverse the declining education trend among students in coastal areas, focusing on narrowing the gender gap in science and information technology education.
The Programming-1 session commenced with a welcome speech by M. Muzahiduzzaman, Regional Coordinator of the SISGCA Project at BdOSN. Md. Shahriar Parvez Shaon, an Academic Team Member of the Bangladesh Junior Science Olympiad and Scratch Bangladesh Mentor, led the programming session. Sharon employed interactive teaching methods and group activities, teaching students hands-on how to create scratch stories. The emphasis was on fostering curiosity and a passion for programming, encouraging students to explore the subject beyond the confines of the classroom.
Taebul Islam Tamim, Academic Team Member of the Bangladesh Math Olympiad committee, conducted the Mathematics-1 session. Tamim utilized interactive teaching methods to create a positive learning environment, focusing on geometry, dots, lines, angles, triangles (area, perimeter, measurements of angles), quadrilaterals, and circles. He addressed individual student queries, simplifying geometrical explanations through drawings to enhance understanding.
Both sessions concluded with students expressing heightened eagerness to learn programming and mathematics in a new and engaging manner. The positive attitude cultivated during these sessions is expected to resonate in their continued pursuit of knowledge, instilling a lifelong appreciation for learning programming and mathematics, especially in the evolving age of artificial intelligence.
The SISGCA project is committed to empowering girls in coastal areas, providing them with the skills and knowledge they need to compete in national and international science competitions.