To celebrate this year’s International Literacy Day, USAID’s Reading Enhancement for Advancing Development (READ) project, implemented by Save the Children in Bangladesh, organized an exhibition of teaching-learning materials at Directorate of Primary Education, on Sunday, September 10, 2017, at 10 am. Dr. Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, ndc, Directorate General, Directorate of Primary Education, inaugurated the Literacy Day exhibition.
The whole nation is pursuing the dream of Digital Bangladesh. The education sector, of course, is not lagging behind. Therefore, Save the Children’s READ project has adopted this year’s International Literacy Day’s theme ‘Literacy in a digital world’and organized special exhibition showcased ICT and non-ICT teaching-learning materials. This Literacy Day special exhibition contained Reading Hub approved by National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), 169 supplementary reading materials or story books for children, three interactive learning READ Android apps for the students of grade I-III, a prototype of Community Reading Camp, children’s reading corner used in libraries, and, print-rich environment, and training materials developed by the READ project. Currently, these ICT and non-ICT teaching-learning materials benefiting millions of children across Bangladesh, and these have potentials to improve more children’s literacy skills in if these are used widely.
Dr Abu Hena Mostafa Kamal, ndc, Directorate General, Directorate of Primary Education, said, “READ project’s teaching-learning materials, which are being used in 5112 primary schools, are very encouraging for the government as well as for the other development partners and stakeholders, and teachers. The ICT teaching-learning materials of READ, especially the Reading Hub and READ Android apps for the students of grade I-III has opened a new window of opportunity in Digital Bangladesh.”
Besides the Directorate General, Directorate of Primary Education, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Senior Education Advisor, Office of Population, Health, Nutrition, and Education (PHNE), USAID Bangladesh, Bushra Zulfiqar, Director-Education, Save the Children in Bangladesh were present the exhibition. Senior officials from the Directorate of Primary Education, under Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, representatives from different social development organizations, graced the occasion.
Save the Children’s READ project closely works with the Government of Bangladesh, particularly the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education (MOPME)’s Directorate for Primary Education (DPE), to rapidly roll-out an Early Grade Reading (EGR) intervention addressing classroom instruction, home and community support, and materials availability so critical to children’s reading success.
With the Government of Bangladesh, READ is strengthening the capacity of local DPE units to improve reading instruction, enhance support and supervision teachers receive from school and Upazila officials and improve the education system’s ability to track children’s reading progress.
READ Android apps for the students of grade I-III
The objective of this Literacy Day special exhibition is to amplifying the use of interesting and child-friendly educational ICT and non-ICT materials, colorful print-rich environment, innovative reading and storytelling activities, and practice of learning from the Android Apps can be solved that will achieve the objective of Digital Bangladesh agenda as well as ensure competency in literacy skills in Bangla. It is worth mentioning that—since 2013, USAID has been supporting Save the Children’s READ project to improve early grade reading competence through child-friendly educational ICT and non-ICT materials.
