A total of 168 academic institutions from across the country received the International School Award (ISA) under Connecting Classrooms program of the British Council for their outstanding performances in the academic year of 2018-2021.

The British Council handed over crests and certificates to School representatives at a formal ceremony held on November 6  Wednesday at the Banquet Hall of the Hotel Radisson Blu Water Garden in the capital.

Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel attended the event as the chief guest with Director Education and English, British Council, Bangladesh, David Maynard in the chair.

Project Manger Schools, British Council Bangladesh Nusrat Jahan Milki moderated the session.

In his welcome speech, Director Education and English, Bangladesh, David Maynard said that the Connecting Classroom is a partnership journey between schools to schools, teachers to teachers and students to students. It defines the shared activities of the schools on different learning issues based on curriculum.

Teachers and students benefit by sharing best practices developing collaborative activities. It has created a better and enhanced learning environment imparting sense of internationalism and leadership among the students in the schools, he stated.

International School Award (ISA) is a celebration and recognition of collaborative activities of schools. It is very important to develop global teaching- learning trend among the teachers and students and to know the cultural values, tradition and heritage of the international partner schools, said David Maynard.

He also said around 3000 schools of the country were registered with Connecting Classroom program of the British Council, Bangladesh. The organisation offers face to face training and on-line courses for the teachers on different educational programs, including 21st century core skills to improve professional skills and to ensure quality and sustainable teaching learning.

The deputy minister of education said, “Quality education and the world class education with the changing demand of technology and globalisation are important for our children. The government has been working to ensure quality education in order to reach the SDGs target.” 

“There has been revolutionary change in the education sector. Enrollment, girls’ education and pass rate in the public examinations have been increased. The government has fully focused on quality education and entire schools development. Teachers are the maker of all sorts of development and the future generation. So, the government has given priority to uplift the livelihood of the teachers,” 

He also said that learning core skill is the demand of education at the present world.  Teachers and students across the globe are acquiring the skills and encouraged and inspired sharing and exchanging the collaborative education projects through Connecting Classroom program. It has created opportunities for the young people to learn about and take consequent action on global issues as well as to develop their key transferable skills.

An award winner Khurshiduzzaman Ahamed , who was also a Head teacher, Kaliganj  Karim Uddin Pubic Pilot High School , Lalmonirhat said that practicing ISA activity is really like a win- win situation.  It was very effective and goal oriented. It was learning beyond syllabus.

Around 400 teachers including principal, head teachers, education officials, policy makers, experts across the country joined the event.

The event was followed by a cultural program  performed by the students of Narayanganj Govt. girls school.

Photo exhibitions on international activities of the schools were also displayed in the event. Some 10 schools across the country set up stalls and displayed their collaborative learning activities documents with their international partner schools.

Zakir Hossain

Principal 

Robertsongonj High School

Amanagar, Rangpur 

&

School Ambassador, British Council

Email: zakir63283@gmail,com