In Dhaka, the capital, there is a target school for the GENKI program called OBAT English School, which teaches the government’s educational curriculum in English. The school was established in 2008 by OBAT, an NGO. Currently, 409 students are studying under 11 teachers. Nearby is a slum called the Genova Camp, inhabited mainly by Urdu-speaking Biharis (refugees from an ethnic minority who became stateless at the time of independence from Pakistan). Many of the students attending the school live in this Genova camp.
Mr. Anwar of OBAT places particular emphasis on mathematics as a lifelong academic skill, and was looking for a unique teaching material that could be introduced to the school. At that time, he learned that an organization called Khan Academy offered free online classes, and he decided to use it immediately. Khan Academy is a global non-profit organization dedicated to “bringing free, world-class education to everyone, everywhere.” Bangladesh started offering online classes in early 2020.
In March 2020, the school started online math classes on four computers at the initiative of Mr. Anwar. Shortly after that, however, the school was forced to close as a result of the spread of the new coronavirus infection in Bangladesh. Teachers urged children staying at home to continue their online classes using the smartphones of their parents and friends, but not all families have access to smartphones, and internet connections often fail. And it wasn’t easy to continue.
After a year and a half, schools were finally allowed to reopen . The school solicited donations and purchased four new computers so that more children could take online classes in a limited amount of time. A total of 250 third- to fifth-year students are participating in online classes using a total of eight computers.
Currently, a total of about 60 children take turns taking online classes per day, with 8 students participating in each class on a timetable of 8 classes per day. In addition to online classes, we aim to improve academic ability by continuing classes using conventional textbooks.
Online classes in poorly equipped environments are not easy. The internet is unstable and sometimes disconnects. In addition, it has become more serious recently due to the planned blackouts by the government. The school has its own generator, but it can only supply power for one hour, so online classes cannot continue if the power goes out for a long time.
On the other hand, there are many advantages of online classes. For example, online classes incorporate many videos and images of things familiar to students that cannot be encountered in conventional classroom lectures, so that children can learn mathematics more happily and broadly while using textbooks. Now
It also incorporates game elements. Each time children complete a level, they earn a score and a reward badge, motivating them to continue learning.
The teachers said, “Through online classes, there is no doubt that children have changed from thinking that math is a difficult subject to thinking that math is interesting. I started to want to learn.”
11-year-old Shahir, who attends the school, is also one of the students who loves online classes. Shahir lives with her family in a Genova camp.
Originally, mathematics was a weak subject for Shahir. However, by learning from online class videos and solving many problems like a game, I was able to score 500 points, the highest score in the school.
Shahir said, “Until now, I wasn’t good at math, and I wasn’t able to get good grades on tests. Before I knew it, I was good at mathematics.Now I can solve difficult problems by myself and teach my friends.I will continue my studies and hope to become a civil servant in the future. I want to be.”
Principal Halima said, “Shahir used to hate math and had bad grades, but since he started online classes, his grades have improved significantly. There are other children like Shahir. The improvement in children’s academic abilities is the result of online classes.I hope that by improving their math skills, they will also develop their logical thinking skills, which will be useful in the future.I would like to continue this initiative.” Masu.
The GENKI program will continue to support the school.