The signing program was held at British Council Bangladesh Office, 5 Fullar Road, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Ms. Rosemary Arnott, Director, Mr. Ahsanul Azad, Project Manager and Mr. Mostofa Siraj Mohiuddin, Project Coordinator, were present from British Council side. After exchanging warm greetings, Ms. Arnott wanted to know about D.Net. Dr. Raihan share that D.Net is a social enterprise and work on access to information and knowledge. In addition, Dr. Raihan mentioned that the Computer Literacy Program (CLP) is one of the remarkable program developed in collaboration with VAB-NJ  (New Jersey chapter of Volunteers Association for Bangladesh,US) in 2004.  We are very proud because some eminent NRBs are involved with this project. The main objective of the CLP is to promote the knowledge and usage of computers among needy students in rural Bangladesh and bridge the rural-urban, underprivileged-affluent digital divide. CLP has evolved over these years and spawned new initiatives Smart Class Room (SCR) in 2010 under a Public-Private Partnership Initiative with the Government of Bangladesh to promote e-learning. A SCR is complemented lecture-based instruction in a conventional class room, where students taught through the use of interactive educational contents and internet. Through SCR program, teachers feel more confident and empowered. Ms. Arnott was very glad to know about D.Net activities.

Ms. Arnott mentioned that the British Council is implementing a project in Bangladesh called “Schools Online Program”. Schools Online is a web community with a variety of online tools designed to help enable schools, teachers, head teachers & educators across the globe. It is also create learning opportunities, learn about different culture, online collaboration within and across countries, building trust among cultures and countries & create opportunities for students to be Global Citizen. She also mentioned that 65 schools are very small, but wished that the project will spread and be implemented in large scale.

Dr. Ananya Raihan, Executive Director, Mr. Ajoy Kumar Bose, Joint Director and S M Kamruddin Ropum, Assistant Director, were present there from D.Net side.  Mr. Mostofa Siraj Mohiuddin also shared some components of British Council programs like Connecting Schools, Active Citizen Program etc. Mr. Bose wanted to participate and integrate CLCs in these British Council Programs. British Council was agreed to cooperate D.Net according to Mr. Bose’s proposal.

Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB-NJ), New Jersey, USA and D.Net, Dhaka Bangladesh, initiated the Computer Literacy Program (CLP) in 2004 to promote the knowledge and usage of computers among needy students in rural Bangladesh. To date the CLP program has established 168 Computer Literacy Centers (CLCs) in 53 districts of Bangladesh, and trained ~500 teachers, and ~52,000 students. CLP has also spawned new innovative initiatives, as an example,  the Smart Class Room (SCR) in 2010 under a Public-Private Partnership Initiative with the Government of Bangladesh to promote e-learning. A SCR will complement lecture-based instruction in a conventional class room, where students will be taught through the use of interactive multimedia educational CDs and the Internet. Thirty SCRs were established in 2011. And  70 SCRs and 70 CLCs over next two years in partnership with sponsors.

To motivate donors to sponsor for establishing CLC & SCR in schools, VAB-NJ & D.Net organized a program titled “Givings to Innovation in Education: Support Computer Literacy and Smart Classroom Programs for Underprivileged Youth” at Lakeshore Hotel on 9^th January, 2012. The main aim of the program was to share the experiences of CLC and SCR with the Bangladeshis, corporate houses, various donor agencies and donors, and encourage them to donate to help the underprivileged youth.

Architect Yeafesh Osman, honorable minister of Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Rashed Khan Menon, MP, Chairperson of Standing Committee of Ministry of Education, Ms. Rokeya Afzal Rahman, former Advisor of Caretaker Government, Bangladesh, Dr. Jnanendra N Biswas, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and many other national and international guests including non-resident Bangladeshis were present in this evening at Hotel Lakeshore.

Architect Yeafesh Osman, State Minister, Minister of Science & Technology

Dr. M. Farooque, VAB-NJ, USA

Dr. Jnanendra N Biswas, Executive Director, BCC

Mr. Rashed Khan Menon, MP

Ms. Rekeya Afzal Rahman, former Advisor of Caretaker of Bangladesh

Dr. Ananya Raihan, Executive Director of D.Net delivered his warm welcome speech. Mr. Raihan expressed the need for integrations of ICT in Bangladesh Education System. He also acknowledged the role of VAB-NJ, non Resident Bangladeshis’, sponsors, Government, financial and equipmental contributors, patrons, corporate houses especially Bank Asia, Standard Chartered Bank etc., Hossain Trust, and school children who also donated their monthly lunch allowance for this cause.

Dr. Mohammad Farooque, Program Director of VAB-NJ shared his root level experiences about CLC and SCR. He also presented the concept & objectives of CLC and SCR program, partnership status among VAB-NJ, Government and D.Net, and statistics about the graduates of CLC and beneficiaries of SCR.

Mr. Rashed Khan Menon, MP, Chairperson of Standing Committee of Ministry of Education delivered his speech on the importance of ICT, trained teachers’ and computer facilities in schools.

Architect Yeafesh Osman, honorable minister of Ministry of Science and Technology thanked Dr. Farooque for his dedication. Mr. Osman also shared his field level experiences in different sectors like farming, telemedicine, admission process, eAsia etc.

Team Leader of English in Action (EIA) Mr. Mark presented the aim of English in Action. He also presented how English in Action uses technology for developing teachers’ professional skill, improving learning environment by creating interactions, communications and activities in classroom.

Mr. Ajoy Kumer Bose, Joint Director of D.Net presented two short films on how ICT empowered people and facilitated learning through CLC and SCR.

Ms. Rokeya Afzal Rahman, former Advisor of Caretaker Government, Bangladesh thanked VAB-NJ, BCC & D.Net for taking this type of innovative initiative.

Dr. Ganendro Nath Biswas, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) delivered his speech about BCC, objectives of BCC, activities of BCC, and relation between BCC and D.Net. He also thanked  VAB-NJ for its continuous support and requested Non Resident Bangladeshis to donate for the cause.

Mr. Obaidur Rahman, Assistant Teacher of Ghorashal Pilot High School, Narshingdi shared his experience about Computer Literacy Center (CLC). He also presented the benefits of students and teachers through use of CLC.

Mr. Abdur Rahman, Assistant Teacher of Al-Haj Jamal Uddin High School, Dhamrai, Dhaka shared his experience about Smart Classroom (SCR).

A question-answer session was arranged in that evening. Dr. Mohammad Farooque and Dr. Ananya Raihan answered the queries of the guests.

Mr. Mohsin, coordinator of the Daily Star Leadership Colloquium presented how D.Net works, how Non Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) can contribute along with D.Net and how to bridge local and global NRB communities.

Finally, Dr Toufic Ahmed Choudhury, Chairperson of D.Net delivered vote of thanks and ended the program (at 9.00 pm).

A dinner was arranged for the guests.

Findings of the program

• Sharing experiences.
• Motivate donors to donate this program.
• Get instant donation of 10 computers for Ghorashal Pilot High School, Narsingdhi and 12 computers for Mukul Niketon High School, Mymensingh from Mr. Zakir Hossain (NRB).
• Some of the donors showed interest to donate. D.Net listed them and will communicate with them.
• Explore the ways of bridging local and global connectivity.

Date: July 14, 2012

Time: 6pm to 11pm

Place:

Rutgers Cook College Center , 59 Biel Road, New 

Brunswick,NJ 08901, detail please click here