Workshop on Curriculum Framework for Pre-primary and Shishu Bikash Kendra

A five day workshop was organized by the Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) at BU-IED on developing monitoring tools, indicators and implementation strategies for Pre-primary and Shishu Bikash Kendro from 5 to 9 August 2007. This workshop was a continuation of the workshop held last month (July 9-17), on Bangladesh Shishu Academy (BSA) Program Package Review of Shishu Bikash Kendro (SBK) and Pre-Primary (PP) schools organized by the ECDRC. Participants from Bangladesh Shishu Academy, NCTB, Nayantara Communication, Islamic Foundation Bangladesh, Grameen Shikkha, UNICEF, Save the Children USA, BRAC Education Programme, Plan Bangladesh and Inner Force attended the workshop. Their work was presented at a sharing session on 7 August 2007. Along with the participants from the above-mentioned organizations, additional ECD stakeholders such as UNICEF, IER and Directorate of Primary Education (DPE) attended the sharing session. The session elicited a number of suggestions which were incorporated into a draft developed for Bangladesh Shishu Academy.

Workshop at BU-IED on Designing Curriculum Framework

Workshop on Implementing Primary Education Learning Package

A day long workshop on ‘Implementation of BU-IED Learning Package’ for qualitative improvement of primary education (subject: Bangla and Mathematics of Grades I & II) was organized by Primary Education Team, BU-IED at TARC, Comilla on 31 July 2007. District Primary Education Officer (DPEO), Comilla, Upazila Education Officer (UEO) and Assistant Upazila Education Officers (AUEO) of Chandina, Head Teachers of piloting schools, two national consultants, TARC in-charge, regional and area manager of BEP, Comilla, learning facilitators and Primary Education Team of BU-IED participated in the workshop. The main objectives of the workshop were to explain the purposes and approaches of learning package to the concerned officials and Head Teachers and to ensure their involvement and role for successful implementation of the learning package. The participants offered suggestions and shared their ideas on implementation of the learning package. The workshop concluded with the positive note of DPEO emphasizing on collaboration between BU-IED and the government primary schools.

Workshop on BU-IED Learning Package

Workshop on BU-IED Learning Package

A day long workshop on ‘Implementation of BU-IED Learning Package’ for qualitative improvement of primary education (subject: Bangla and Mathematics of Grades I & II) was organized by Primary Education Team, BU-IED at TARC, Comilla on 31 July 2007. District Primary Education Officer (DPEO), Comilla, Upazila Education Officer (UEO) and Assistant Upazila Education Officers (AUEO) of Chandina, Head Teachers of piloting schools, two national consultants, TARC in-charge, regional and area manager of BEP, Comilla, learning facilitators and Primary Education Team of BU-IED participated in the workshop. The main objectives of the workshop were to explain the purposes and approaches of learning package to the concerned officials and Head Teachers and to ensure their involvement and role for successful implementation of the learning package. The participants offered suggestions and shared their ideas on implementation of the learning package. The workshop concluded with the positive note of DPEO emphasizing on collaboration between BU-IED and the government primary schools.

BU-IED at Education Research Conference

BU-IED participated in the Tenth Educational Researchers’ conference for dissemination of research studies organized by UNESCO-BAFED (Bangladesh Forum of Educational Development) Researchers Forum on 8th July 2007 at IDB Bhaban, Sher-e- Bangla Nagar. Five research findings were presented in the day-long conference. MS Mahmuda Akhter, head of the Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) of BU-IED and Mr. Aftab Opel, Principal Investigator and Consultant, ECDRC presented the first two research findings titled “Playing with mathematics: A pilot Intervention to Develop Basic Mathematical skills among the preschoolers in Bangladesh” and “A literacy intervention for preschool children in Bangladesh: the benefits of dialogic reading”. 

Workshop on Programme Design for Early Childhood Development

A workshop on the Bangladesh Shishu Academy (BSA) Programme Package Review of Shishu Bikash Kendro (SBK) and Pre-primary (PP) schools was organized by the Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) of BU-IED at the BU-IED conference room from 9th July to 17th July, 2007. The workshop, sponsored by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MOWCA) and Plan Bangladesh, had participants comprising nearly fifty ECD experts, professionals, stakeholders and government representatives. The main objective of the workshop was to share information about the curricular framework for SBK and PP education, to review and analyze the existing learning packages of SBK and PP and to develop a standard learning package for SBK and PP involving the major ECD stakeholders of Bangladesh ECD Network. 

After a week-long group work on specific subject areas, the workshop ended with the sharing session held on 17th July where the conclusions were presented to ECD professionals, stakeholders and government representatives.

The opening session of the ECD programme review workshop

Research on Education Access and Equity

The second phase of CREATE (Consortium for Research on Educational Access, Transitions and Equity) has begun in July with the baseline survey of a sample of children at home and school in Khanshama Upazila of Dinajpur. Similar surveys will be undertaken in five other locations in the country with the partnership of an NGO involved in education in the locality. The children will be tracked for at least three years in order to shed light on the dynamics of participation, performance and exclusion in education programmes. Besides BU-IED, seven other research institutions from India, Ghana, South Africa and U.K. are partners in the international research project supported by DFID. 

BU-IED Director Visits George Washington University and International Reading Association

Dr. Manzoor Ahmed visited George Washington University on May 22-23, 2007 and met with the staff and Chair of the International Education Department, Prof. James Williams, at the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. BRAC University has a collaborative relationship with George Washington University. Prof. Williams is expected to spend several weeks at BU-IED in August this year to participate in a collaborative study on education policy development in Bangladesh.

Dr. Ahmed discussed plans for technical cooperation in language development of children in primary education in Bangladesh at the headquarters of the International Reading Association, the principal professional organisation in the world on language teaching. 

Daily Star Supplement on Education Policy Roundtable

The Daily Star published on 29 May, 2007 a special eight-page supplement on policy and progress in pre-university education based on the text of the policy roundtable jointly hosted by BU-IED, CAMPE, UNESCO and Daily Star on 28 April, 2007 at Hotel Sheraton. The supplement highlighted issues regarding education as a human right, prospects for achieving Education for All goals for 2015 and policy priorities in this regard. BU-IED had prepared the issues paper for the roundtable.

Participants at a roundtable titled 'Education as a human right: Where are we?' pledge their efforts to ensure education for all by 2015. CAMPE, UNESCO, The Daily Star and BRAC University jointly organised the roundtable at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

BU-IED at ECD World Forum 2007

Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) of BRAC University Institute of Educational Development (BU-IED) was represented at the World Forum on Early Care and Education, May 15-18, 2007 at Kuala Lumpur. Ms. Mahmuda Akhter, Head, ECDRC and Mohammad Kazi Foysal, staff member of ECDRC participated at the World Forum on behalf of ECDRC. Ms. Akhter made a presentation on professional development activities of ECDRC and the Bangladesh Early Childhood Network (BEN). Over 750 ECD practitioners from 73 nations participated in the Forum. Major themes explored at the 2007 World Forum included poverty and children, curriculum models, teacher education, nature education, advocacy, staffing, funding, and indicators of quality.

ECD World Forum 2007

Basic English Language Training (BELT) for Secondary School Teachers

A six day Basic English Language Training (BELT) Phase-1 conducted by English group of BU-IED was held from May 19 to May 24, 2007 at Niketon TARC, Dhaka. A total 20 participants from different secondary schools of Manikgonj participated in the training. The English group of the Secondary Team has decided to develop a series of courses to improve teaching skills of teachers, especially in using the communicative approach in English effectively in the classroom. The aim of the phase 1 training is the teachers’ self development in basic English including four language skills and the teachers' capacity for creating a communicative environment in the classroom.

Participants of the training engaged in group activities

A workshop on non-formal education (NFE) and life-long learning (LLL)

Dr. Claude Bobillier, an international consultant and Dr. Kla Somtrakool, senior adviser to the Thai Ministry of Education and former Deputy DG of DNFE Thailand, were invited to explore areas of collaboration between BNFE (Bureau of Non-Formal Education) in the domain of non-formal education (NFE) and life-long learning (LLL). To this end, both the consultants visited Bangladesh between March 30 and April 13, in order to consult with concerned parties including BNFE, BU-IED and key NGOs running different variations of community learning centres. Findings of the visits were discussed with BNFE and other stakeholders in a day-long workshop held on April 11, 2007 at BU-IED. Dr. Bobillier outlined future steps for collaboration between BU-IED and BNFE and Dr. Somtrakool presented NFE experiences of Thailand in order to add value to the process.

Dr. Kla Somtrakool sharing NFE experiences of Thailand

Training of Trainers (ToT) course for Child Development Project in Chittagong Hill Tracts 


The Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) at BU-IED conducted a Training of Trainers (ToT) course in collaboration with UNICEF Bangladesh for the staff of Integrated Child Development Project (ICDP) of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board (CHTDB). The course took place from 28th March to 10th April, 2007 at BU-IED conference room.

Mahmuda Akhter conducting a session

The content of the training included early learning, child health, child nutrition, water & sanitation, birth registration, child rights and gender. The major objective of the training course was to develop a group of master trainers in ICDP project for strengthening the activities for the CHTDB. Ms. Mahmuda Akhter, Head of ECDRC, BU-IED coordinated the training course. 

Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, Director of BU-IED and Nabendra Tahal, Chief, Education Section, UNICEF Bangladesh attended the closing ceremony and distributed the certificates to the trainees.

The Bangladesh Early Childhood Development Network (BEN) is a forum of principal actors in early childhood development including government agencies, NGOs, international organizations, and academic and research institutions. The Early Childhood Development Resource Centre (ECDRC) at BRAC University Institute of Educational Development serves as the Secretariat of the Network. ECDRC will be hosting the national ECD conference in Dhaka on December 10, 2006.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Building Partnerships for ECD.” Some 250 participants active in the ECD field will be invited. Ms. Yasmeen Murshed, Honourable Advisor, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, has kindly agreed to grace the ceremony as the Chief Guest. Dr. Caroline Arnold, ECD Adviser of the Aga Khan Foundation has agreed to be the keynote speaker.