education
Majority of children with disabilities are not enrolled in any formal education: Survey
More than half of children with disabilities in Bangladesh are not enrolled in any formal education, according to new national-level data revealed on Tuesday.
The findings come from the recently-published National Survey on Persons with Disabilities (NSPD) 2021, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) with technical support from UNICEF.
The survey reveals that among children with disabilities (aged 5-17 years), only 65 per cent are enrolled in primary school and only 35 per cent are enrolled in secondary school. In total, 60 percent of children with disabilities aged 5-17 years are not in education.\
Read more: Learning Disabilities in Children: Types, symptoms, ways to help
The survey also found that children with disabilities who do attend formal education lag behind academically by over two years for their age on average.
“The data from this national survey – the first of its kind by the BBS – highlights the challenges children with disabilities face growing up. The findings will support the Government to formulate policies and initiatives to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh,” said Iftekhairul Karim, Project Director, BBS.
According to the survey, 1.7 percent of children in Bangladesh live with one of the twelve types of disability defined in the Persons with Disability Rights and Protection Act 2013, while 3.6 per cent of children face functional difficulty in at least one of the domains of seeing, hearing, walking, fine motor skills, communication, learning, playing or controlling behaviour.
“The new data highlights just how many children with disabilities in Bangladesh are losing out on education. We need to do more for these children. We need to provide the support and services they need, and we need to create an inclusive environment where they can thrive,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
Data from the survey also shed light on the difficulties that children with disabilities face as adults.
Read more: Youth with disabilities deprived of learning, employment scopes: Study
Only one third of persons with disabilities of working age are employed, with women with disabilities far more likely to be unemployed compared to men.
And while 90 percent of persons with disabilities who are registered with the Government receive disability allowances, the vast majority of them – about 65 per cent – remain unregistered.
Early identification and management of childhood disabilities are critical to maximizing the potential of children.
It is also critical to create an inclusive environment where families and service-providers can support children with disabilities to participate actively in all spheres of life.
UNICEF works with the government and partners in Bangladesh to champion the rights of children with disabilities to education, healthcare and future employment, and to remove social stigma and prejudice.
Recruitment irregularities: ACC starts probe against ex-VC of Khulna Agricultural University
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has started an investigation against former vice-chancellor of Khulna Agricultural University (KAU), Dr Shahidur Rahman Khan, for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the recruitment of 426 teachers and staff members for the university.
KAU authorities on Monday (January 23, 2023) submitted documents related to last three years’ recruitment to the ACC.
The development came after a national daily published a report in September last year stating the irregularities in the recruitment process of Khulna Agricultural University. It said some 426 teachers and staff members were appointed for KAU against 350 students and also 43 departments were opened in just three years.
Read more: Corruption in NSU’s land acquisition: Hearing on 4 trustees’ bail plea Thursday
Later, the University Grants Commission (UGC) conducted an investigation and found anomalies in the recruitment.
Based on the report, the education ministry on August 3 last year ordered cancellation of the appointment of 73 teachers and staff members including the relatives of the vice-chancellor.
In November last year, ACC took a decision to investigate the irregularities in the recruitment process of KAU and assigned Ershad Mia, deputy director of the ACC, to lead the investigation.
The investigation officer on January 2 sent a letter to the university authorities asking to submit recruitment related documents including recruitment notices, candidates' applications, and written test records by January 10.
Read more: Irregularities in recruitment: PUST VC freed after 4 hours of confinement
The anti-graft agency also requested university authorities to submit a probe report if any investigation was conducted previously in this connection.
Later, the inquiry officer extended the deadline till January 23 following the application of university authorities.
KAU Registrar Dr Mazharul Anwar on Monday submitted the documents to the investigating officer.
Ershad Mia, investigating officer, said he has received some documents and these will be inspected.
Read More: UGC asks 4 private universities to stop enrollment for failing to fulfill conditions
'Films, television can be strong drivers of social transformation, change'
Films and television can be strong drivers of social change and can have a transformative effect on society, Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman said Monday.
He was speaking at the 11th-anniversary celebration of the Department of Television, Film, and Photography of DU.
"This department not only provides professional training but also teaches the students to think critically. It helps them develop an innovative mindset too," Akhtaruzzaman said.
"Also, there is an opportunity for this department to further strengthen the industry-academia relationship as the guest teachers of this department are directly connected with the media industry," he added.
The daylong programme was held at the Teacher-Student Center (TSC) auditorium of the university.
Akhtauzzaman inaugurated the event as the chief guest around 12.30pm. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor ASM Maksud Kamal and the founding chairman of the Department of Television, Film, and Photography Professor AJM Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan were also present.
Read more: Open master’s programs at DU to start from 2022-23 academic session
Open master’s programs at DU to start from 2022-23 academic session
The Dhaka University Syndicate has taken a decision to admit students from other universities in regular Master's degree courses of the university, subject to the availability of seats.
“Students, who have completed their graduation from any recognised (public and private) university of Bangladesh and are willing take master’s degree from Dhaka University, can apply for admission in DU if there are available seats in the department from 2022-23 academic year,” said a policy paper approved by DU syndicate recently.
However, applicants from any university other than Dhaka University can apply for the masters programs in Dhaka University if the minimum requirements set by the individual departments meet as the admission process will be controlled and conducted by individual departments and institutes.
Read More: ICT division partners withBrac Kumon to spread Japanese method of learning
On the other hand, Dhaka University syndicate, the highest policy making authority of DU, has imposed a minimum requirement that the applicants have to obtain at least CGPA 3.25 in their bachelor program though there is no ban on age and academic session.
After fulfilling all the requirements set by individual departments and institutes, applicants have to sit for a 100-mark examination and a viva voce to take final admission. The exam will be held against the available seats and top scorers will be allowed to take admission.
However, foreign students can also avail this opportunity with the residential facility while Bangladeshi students will not be able to avail residential facilities as they will be considered as Non-resident.
Read More: 6th convocation of Jahangirnagar University on February 25
“DU authority has removed the age and academic session ban from this program so that the students from all walks of life can avail this opportunity. In our country, we have a culture that most of our students take admission in post-graduation courses immediately after completing the bachelor’s degree but in most of the countries of the world, students do their master’s program much later. The decision has been taken to ensure inclusiveness quality education,” prof. Zia Rahman, dean of social science faculty told UNB.
“As all general students do not enrol in master's programs after graduation, some seats remain available. To provide our best service, both outsider students and former DU students will get the same opportunity by paying the same tuition for the standard Master's program,” he added.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman said, “In order to promote inclusiveness and lifelong learning opportunities for everyone, we are allowing graduates from other public universities and UGC-approved institutions to enrol in our bachelor's programs.”
Read More: World keeps silent as Afghan govt stops education for women: PM Hasina
“Private universities are also approved by UGC, so student, who completed the undergraduate courses, will be considered as worthy to admit to these masters’ courses and through this they will have the opportunity so take the subject they like,” he added
Earlier, students other than Dhaka University could not avail the opportunity to take master’s degree from Dhaka University but for the first time DU took this academic initiative to provide and create an inter-academic, inclusive and lifelong education system.
ICT division partners withBrac Kumon to spread Japanese method of learning
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday was signed between the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) division and Brac Kumon Limited to spread the Japanese education method ‘Kumon’ across the country.
ICT division Director General Md Mostafa Kamal and Brac Kumon Ltd Managing Director Lady Syeda Sarwat Abed inked the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak was present as the chief guest at the signing ceremony where the ICT division’s Senior Secretary NM Ziaul Alam, Country Representative to Bangladesh of Japan External Trade Organisation Yuji Ando and Brac Kumon Ltd Head Nehal Bin Hasan among others were present there.
Addressing the programme, State Minister Palak said the Kumon method will be launched at Sheikh Russell Digital Labs under the ICT division this year to spread the method across the country.
Apart from this, a pilot programme of this method will be implanted in six ‘School of Future’ by this year, he said adding that this method will be launched fully in 300 ‘Schools of Future’ by 2025.
Read more: Japan’s ‘Kumon’ method to be launched in 300 Bangladeshi ‘Schools of Future’ next year
He said this method will be helpful to flourish the talent of students along with removing intimidation in mathematics and English.
Stressing the need for smart citizens for building a smart Bangladesh by 2041, the state minister hoped that this method will play a role in building smart citizens.
Japanese mathematician Toru Takoshi, father of the Kumon method, designed it to develop his son’s math skills in 1958 as he was weak in the subject.
Some four million students from 60 countries across the world have been studying mathematics and English using the Kumon method.
6th convocation of Jahangirnagar University on February 25
The 6th convocation of Jahangirnagar University (JU) will be held on February 25, said the university authorities.
The convocation will be held at 3:30 pm, said a notification signed by Shatarupa Talukder, senior assistant secretary of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education of the Education Ministry.
The first convocation of Jahangirnagar University was held in 1997.
The second convocation was held in 2001 and the fifth and last convocation of the university was held in 2015, it said.
World keeps silent as Afghan govt stops education for women: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government will turn Bangladesh into a developed nation taking the country's women along with it.
“In 2026 Bangladesh will get the final recognition as a developing nation, and we will advance further. We are planning all our development programmes keeping that in our mind, we will advance more taking the womenfolks with us,” she said.
The premier said this while the representative of Chattagram-based Asian University for Women called on her at her Sangsad Bhaban office.
Chancellor of the university Cherie Blair led the team, PM’s speech writer M Nazrul Islam told reporters.
He said that the PM mentioned that the prime task of the her government is to ensure overall development of the country and provide food, education and healthcare to all.
In this regard, she asked the Asian University for Women representatives to provde the students an educational curriculum which will make them entrepreneurs and skilled to face the challenges of the future.
“Not only the general education, provide the education that will make them skilled instead of creating unemployment,” she said.
Hasina mentioned that she donated the land for this university.
“Women education is essential for development for any country,” she said.
She briefly described various programmes of her government during her tenures.
While the issue of Afghanistan came during the meeting, the prime minister said that there is no scope to stop the education for the women in the name of Islam.
“Islam was started by a woman (Hazrat Khadiza), and Islam has never ever been an obstacle for women education. Stopping education for them is not acceptable at all,” she said.
She also mentioned that Islam always patronises the equal rights of man and woman.
In this regard, she said that she also faced serious opposition regarding the women leadership while she came in the politics.
Regarding the Afghanistan issue, she said that the present Afghanistan government forcibly stopped education for the women.
“The whole world is witnessing this, no one is taking any step against it,” she said.
She mentioned that she devoted her life for the development of the country and its people.
Talking about Rohingya issue, the prime minister said that the government is providing education to Rohingya children in their own language.
Education Minister Dipu Moni, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and AUW Vice Chancellor Rubana Huq were present.
HSC results likely between Feb 7-9
The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations of 2022 are likely to be published between February 7-9.
Convenor of the inter-education board coordination committee, Tapan Kumar Sarkar told UNB that a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Education to publish the results between these days.
Tapan, also the chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, said that as soon as the prime minister gives her approval, they will be able to announce the date for publishing the results.
The HSC and equivalent examinations were held between November 6 to December 13 last year.
Also Read: SSC Results 2022: 2,975 institutions achieve 100% pass rate, none passed from 50
A total of 1,203,407 examinees completed their registration to sit for the exams. Of them, 6,22,769 were boys and 5,80,611 were girls.
US Embassy to host university fairs in Dhaka, Chattogram
The US Embassy in Dhaka will host US university fairs in Dhaka and for the first time in Chattogram.
The embassy will arrange the fairs through its EducationUSA platform in partnership with EdPrograms, according to a media statement.
Read more: US Embassy’s University Fair on Sep 23: Bangladeshi students can talk to admission officials
The first fair will be held at Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View on January 29 and the second one at InterContinental Dhaka on January 31.
The programme aims to provide prospective students, teachers, and college counsellors with a unique opportunity to learn about the US higher education application process from admissions officers from 12 accredited higher education institutions.
Anyone who wants to attend the events needs to register at https://forms.gle/aFAEzJmfJQ2wKoH78 for Chattogram fair and https://forms.gle/BxpHge2zEuhkPVF88 for Dhaka.
The fairs will include interactive discussions and one-on-one fireside chat opportunities for students to engage with US university admissions recruiters, EducationUSA advisors, and US Embassy officials.
From their booths, US institutions of higher education will give information on admissions and scholarship opportunities.
Besides, the programme will feature information sessions on the F-1 student visa process.
Read more: US Embassy to host virtual university fairs for promising Bangladeshi students
The fairs will also provide students with an opportunity to learn firsthand from testing services on SAT and banking representatives on financial options.
EducationUSA is the US Department of State's network of over 425 international student advising centres in 178 countries. The network promotes US higher education to students around the world by offering accurate, comprehensive, and current information about opportunities to study at accredited institutions in the US.
EducationUSA also provides services to the US higher education community to help institutional leaders meet their recruitment and campus internationalisation goals.
In Bangladesh, EducationUSA advising services and reference materials are available across the country at the American Center at the US Embassy in Dhaka, the Edward M Kennedy Center for Public Service and the Arts in Dhanmondi, and virtually in Chattogram.
EducationUSA reference libraries and remote advising services are also accessible in collaboration with the American Corners in Khulna, Sylhet, and Rajshahi.
BUET hosts 'Robo Carnival' for schools, colleges, varsities
The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has launched a two-day long 'Robo Carnival' to inspire students to make robots to make smart Bangladesh with the slogan 'Build Robot for Smart Bangladesh'.
The two-day long carnival starts at the ECE building around 10 am today (January 19) and BUET vice Chancellor Dr Sattyaprashad Majumdar was the chief guest.
About 500 students, divided into 125 groups, from the different schools, colleges and universities of the country are taking part in the two-day carnival.
The carnival has been arranged to teach and inspire the students about different segments of Robotics like dust collecting robot competition, and firefighter robot competition.
Besides the firefighter robot and trash collector robot competition, a project showcasing part, a workshop on Robotics Simulation software and a robotics olympiad for the competitors have been arranged.
Tarikul Islam Tanvir, a student of Gopalganj Polytechnic Institute, who has developed an 'Earthquake digital safety system', said on his project: "We know that when an earthquake happens, many people die from being electrocuted. The safety system that I have developed will reduce the danger of being electrocuted in case any earthquake happens."
"This safety system can detect earthquake vibration automatically and immediately after it cuts off the electricity lines and water supply lines. Besides, it sends automatic calls to alert the user about the earthquake. This system can be installed in every residential house and industrial sector but if the device is installed in district supply lines then there is no need to install the system separately in individual houses or industrial factories," Tanvir added.
At the initial stage, BUET students took initial tests and presentations of the projects and later BUET teachers evaluated those projects.
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