Education
Grand opening ceremony of National STEAM Olympiad on Sunday
The grand opening ceremony of the National STEAM Olympiad 2023 will be held at 3pm on Sunday at the auditorium of International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka.
The National STEM Olympiad will bring together students from six levels across Bangladesh to showcase their exceptional talent in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).
Education Minister and chief patron of the programme Dipu Moni will inaugurate the event as the chief guest.
Former national cricket team captain and memberof parliament Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, national football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan and one of the players of female national team Krishna Rani Sarkar have become the brand ambassadors of the event.
National STEAM Olympiad convenor and chief advisor UGC member Professor Dr. Sazzad Hossain will preside over the event.
Chief coordinator of the olympiad Mohammad Abdul Hamid said, “The Olympiad will mark a new journey where students of all levels will have an opportunity to showcase their innovative projects, problem-solving abilities and expertise in various STEAM subjects. This platform not only encourages academic learning but also competition, creativity and intellectual spirit.”
Students of six different levels can participate in the competition in a total of eight categories. For more information and to register for the National Steam Olympiad competition, interested can visit the following link: https://nationalsteamolympiad.com
The grand opening event will be open to all.
JDS Master 22nd and PhD. 6th Batch gears up for studying in Japan
A send-off ceremony was arranged for the 22nd JDS (Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship) Master Batch and 6th JDS PhD Batch on Wednesday night (July 19, 2023).
According to a press release, the JDS project supports human resource development by offering young government employees with scholarships for graduate degrees in top Japanese universities. The project is part of the Grant Aid scheme that works under a government-to-government framework.
Read: IDP Education Bangladesh to host UK and USA Education Roadshow in Dhaka
The participants in the project are expected to contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation by purposefully engaging in policy formation and execution when they accomplish the program and return to their home nation.
525 Bangladeshi government officials have received JDS Scholarships since 2002, added the release.
Through the project, the young leaders also gain the opportunity to understand Japanese society and common interests and goals for work. The programme creates a system where academic exchanges become a tool for strengthening international relations.
Read: EDOTCO to finance solar power for ActionAid's child development centers
Iwama Kiminori, Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh, AKM Shahabuddin, additional secretary and wing Chief-America & Japan, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance and Ichiguchi Tomohide, chief representative of JICA Bangladesh, represented the respective governments during the send-off ceremony.
Shehzeen Samarah Hussain obtains PhD
Shehzeen Samarah Hussain, a former student of Scholastica School, has achieved a momentous academic feat by becoming one of the few Bangladeshi women to be awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from the esteemed University of California San Diego, USA.
She earned her PhD on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Computer Engineering.
Academic and Research Experiences:
She worked as research assistant under Professor Farinaz Koushanfar, University of California San Diego.
Her other works include as research intern on Deep Learning at NVIDIA Corporation, Santa Clara, CA, audio R&D Research Intern in Qualcomm Technologies Inc., San Diego, CA.
The work as Machine Learning Intern in Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA, Deep Learning R&D Intern at Qualcomm Technologies Inc., San Diego CA and Process Engineer in Global Foundries, Malta NY enriched her.
Publications and Research:
14 publications on various subjects related to Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Notable projects include "Acceleration of Audio Synthesis using Deep Neural Networks on FPGA", “WaveGuard: Understanding and Mitigating Audio Adversarial Examples” and "Accelerating Neural Steganography and Digital Watermarking of Images on FPGAs".
Read: This is high time to allow PhD degrees in private universities: Dipu Moni
Academic Achievements:
She completed her M.Sc. in Computer Engineering from UC San Diego in 2019 and B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Summa Cum Laude) from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA in 2015.
Awards and Honors:
She was recipient of various honors, awards and fellowships from renowned USA universities.
Vision for Bangladesh:
Shehzeen has been offered coveted AI positions from prominent US companies. Her aspiration lies in leveraging her knowledge and research experience to contribute to the development of Artificial Intelligence.
Read: Study in Belgium: Bachelor's, Masters and PhD options for Bangladeshi students
She is committed to actively contributing to the Digital Sector, empowering Bangladesh to become a Digital and Smart nation that benefits all citizens.
Shehzeen expresses her profound gratitude, especially to Bangladeshi prime minister for her unwavering support in realizing the vision of a Digital and Smart Bangladesh.
Read more: Mphil, PhD admission test results published at IU
IDP Education Bangladesh to host UK and USA Education Roadshow in Dhaka
IDP Education Bangladesh, a global leader in international education services and co-owner of IELTS examination will be hosting the UK and USA Education Roadshow on the August 5 at Renaissance Dhaka Gulshan Hotel
The program will be held from 10am till 5pm.
More than 30 universities from the UK and the USA will participate in this event and students will get a chance to meet universities from the Russell Group, meet universities representatives directly and apply on the spot, according to a press release.
Students can explore from a plethora of available subjects to study such as Business, Finance and Accounting, Law, Medical Sciences, Biotechnology, IT, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Fashion Designing, and various others, the press release reads.
This event will also have universities with flexible English language requirements which will simplify the admission process.
IDP also has fast lanes through which students can immediately get offers right after applying.
According to the press release, students can even go home from the event with their offer letter in hand in principle. The entry to this event is free of cost.
People can register for the event at: ttps://bangladesh.idp.com/gvAAq9.
Not possible to nationalise private educational institutions before national polls: Dipu Moni
It is not possible to nationalise private educational institutions before the upcoming parliamentary elections, said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Wednesday.
She said this during a meeting with the protesting teachers and leaders of other teachers' organisations at the International Mother Language Institute at Segunbagicha in the capital on Wednesday.
Also read: Summer vacation in secondary-level institutions cancelled: Education Minister
The minister at the time also urged the protesting teachers to stop the programme and return to class.
“It is not possible to nationalise private educational institutions before the upcoming parliamentary elections. They (private teachers) make such demands as soon as the election season comes. Considering the global financial situation, it is not possible for the government to shoulder such a huge financial responsibility now,” said the minister.
Also read: Many new universities don’t have their own campus: Dipu Moni
"But we will form two committees on nationalisation of private educational institutions in the country. The two committees formed will examine the nationalisation feasibility of private schools in the country. One of the committees will examine financial feasibility and the other will examine institutional capacity,” she added.
Also read: Enrolment in Grades 6-12 in schools up 52.5% since 2009: Dipu Moni
Summer vacation in secondary-level institutions cancelled: Education Minister
Due to the national parliamentary elections, the secondary-level summer vacation has been canceled across the country. This holiday will be coordinated with the next winter vacation, said Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni on Wednesday.
Also rwad: Education Minister seeks media’s support to advance education
She said this after holding a meeting with teacher leaders demanding the nationalisation of secondary educational institutions at the Mother Language Institute in the capital.
Also read: Education Minister embarrassed by assault on Rajshahi college principal
According to the academic calendar, there was a summer vacation in the educational institutions from July 20 to August 2. After the education minister's announcement, it is no longer happening.
Also read: Action if any attempt is made to leak questions: Education Minister
In a meeting with the protesting teachers, the education minister said that the teaching and evaluation of sixth and seventh grade in the new curriculum should be completed by November 30. In addition, all the annual examinations of the schools will have to be completed within the same time.
End/UNB/M/MB/JA
Recruitment anomaly: ACC starts probe against IU VC
The Anti-Corruption Commission has started an investigation regarding the allegations brought against Islamic University vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam for his alleged involvement in irregularities in recruiting teachers at the Finance and Banking Department of the university.
M Shahbub Alam, a job seeker and also a former student of the department, lodged a complaint with the ACC against the vice-chancellor for his alleged involvement in the irregularities.
A two-member team, assistant director Nilkamal Paul and deputy assistant director Syed Maidul Islam, of Kushtia Anti-Corruption Commission went to the IU vice-chancellor’s residence and started investigating the allegations of bribery, corruption and illegal transactions against the VC on Tuesday evening.
Nilkamal Paul, the investigating officer and also the assistant director of the ACC’s Kushtia office, on Wednesday told UNB that they started investigating the allegations brought against the IU VC.
They also inspected various issues including the leaked audio conversations of the vice-chancellor, mega projects and his financial irregularities.
He, however, denied saying anything more in this regard for the sake of investigation.
A selection board for the appointment of lecturers in the finance and banking department of the university was held on the campus in Kushtia on September 25, 2022.
Read: 3 IU BCL activists suspended over medical centre vandalism
The finance and banking department chairman Professor M Bokhtiar Hasan left the selection board as an altercation between Bokhtiar and the board members took place over selecting final candidates.
The board later selected two candidates as the lecturers of the department without the signature of the department’s chairman.
Shahbub Alam, a job seeker of the department, filed a complaint with the ACC head office on February 27 with various allegations including the leaked audio conversations regarding the selection board.
The VC appointed teachers at the department in exchange of bribes and illegal transactions, the complaint said.
Awami League-backed teachers’ alliance Shapla Forum’s general secretary Professor M Mahbubar Rahman said that no teachers could be appointed without the signature of the department’s chairman in the final tabulation sheet of the selection board.
The IU VC appointed the teachers at the finance and banking department illegally, he added.
Contacted, Shahbub Alam said, 'The IU VC has appointed the teachers at the department through illegal and unethical transactions. The audio clips containing conversations between the VC and a person regarding the recruitment board of the department that went viral on social media proved it,’ he said.
Read: Student torture: IU expels 1 BCL leader, 4 activists for one year
He demanded a fresh selection board.
The IU VC, however, could not be reached over phone despite repeated attempts for his comment in this connection.
Earlier, a total of 13 audio clips containing conversations between the vice-chancellor and different people went viral on social media from February 16 to June 11.
On February 17, IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan filed a general diary with the Islamic University police station after an audio clip containing conversation between the VC and a job seeker of the IU’s Mass Communication and Journalism Department had gone viral.
Read more: 2 IU teachers sued for allegedly harassing woman in Jhenaidah
SSC, equivalent exam results on July 28
Results of this year's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations will be published on July 28 (Friday).
Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board Chairman Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar made the announcement today.
Academic activities of 66 educational institutions suspended amid flood in Kurigram
This year's SSC and equivalent exams under all boards, including madrasa (Dakhil) and technical education boards, began simultaneously across the country on April 30.
According to the Ministry of Education, a total of 20,72,163 candidates appeared for this year’s SSC and equivalent exams.
Enrolment in Grades 6-12 in schools up 52.5% since 2009: Dipu Moni
Academic activities of 66 educational institutions suspended amid flood in Kurigram
Academic activities of 66 primary and secondary schools and madrashas have been suspended due to ongoing flood in Kurigram district.
District Education Department sources said due to the overall flood situation and disrupted communication system, the authorities decided to suspend the activities of 66 educational institutions in seven upazilas of the district.
The decision was taken on Sunday, according to the District Primary Education Office.
Read: Kurigram flood situation improves as water level of rivers receding
Among the educational institutions, 54 are primary schools while the rest are secondary and higher secondary level educational institutions and madrashas.
Of the total schools, 25 primary schools are in Nageshwari upazila, six in Ulipur, six in Sadar, eight in Chilmari, seven in Phulbari and one each in Roumari and Bhurungamari upazilas have been closed, said District Primary Education Officer Shahidul Islam.
Already a list of damaged educational institutions was sent to the ministry, he said.
Read: Dudhkumar river in Kurigram overflowing
Shamsul Alam, District Secondary Education Officer, said the academic activities of 10 secondary schools in Nageshwari upazila, one each in Bhurungamari and Ulipur upazilas have been suspended.
Read more: Under-trial prisoner of Kurigram jail dies at hospital
EDOTCO to finance solar power for ActionAid's child development centers
EDOTCO Bangladesh has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ActionAid International Bangladesh Society aiming to empower 50 ‘Shishu Bikash Kendra’ (child development centers) by providing free solar energy.
The collaborative initiative, named “Empowering Shishu Bikash Kendra” by ActionAid, demonstrates EDOTCO’s unwavering commitment to fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and Goal 7: Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Sunil Issac, Country Managing Director of EDOTCO Bangladesh, and Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, inked the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
Under the terms of the MoU, as part of its Tower2Power corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, EDOTCO will act as the financial partner for the project. The company will fund the installation of solar panels, providing power support for lights, fans, and audio systems in 50 child development centers of ActionAid across the country.
Read: EDOTCO Bangladesh appoints Sunil Isaac as new country managing director
Sunil Issac, Country Managing Director of EDOTCO Bangladesh, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, 'Our collaboration with ActionAid presents an excellent opportunity to make a positive impact on the community. By leveraging our combined strength and resources, we can promote sustainable business practices that benefit the areas where we operate. Our goal is to create a just and sustainable ecosystem where everyone has access to connectivity. We remain dedicated to building a sustainable and connected future for the community, and this collaboration will undoubtedly contribute to that mission. We hope our efforts will inspire others to join us in making an even greater impact to the country and our society.”
Read: Edotco sets up 15,000th tower in Bangladesh
Farah Kabir, Country Director of ActionAid Bangladesh, thanking EDOTCO as the new partner remarked, “ActionAid Bangladesh has been at the forefront of advocacy for social and climate justice for the last four decades. In our child development centers, we have been working with marginalized children, investing in their early childhood development, and helping them grow up as smart and responsible citizens. We believe children should have access to equal rights and opportunities and live in a sustainable, safe environment. This partnership exemplifies commitments to child rights and a sustainable planet and intends to encourage the younger generation to be mindful of protecting the environment while pursuing their education and rights.”
By joining forces, EDOTCO and ActionAid are set to positively impact the lives of marginalized children in Bangladesh, while advancing the country's sustainable development agenda.
The partnership exemplifies the commitment of both organizations to drive social and environmental progress and sets the bar for the highest standards in social, economic, and environmental responsibility.
Read more: edotco wins multiple awards at the Global Best Employer Awards 2022