Touhid Ebrahim :
The knowledge of Geography plays an important role in how a country can improve its economic situation and the standards of life and living of the inhabitants. Geography is the science that studies and describes the surface of the earth and its physical, biological, political, economic and demographic characteristics and the complex interrelations among all these factors. Most people are aware of the fact that the economy of Bangladesh stands in one of the poorly rated stage among the world nations and that the poverty rate is here too high to be compared with any developed countries. Though it is true that Bangladesh still struggles, yet it has recorded important progresses in the economic and human resource development. In Bangladesh, economic and human resource development depends much on the geographical factors. Therefore, it is influenced by on weather and climate, knowledge of the soil and water impact on economy. Bangladesh is considered a land of natural disasters due to its vulnerability to flood, river erosion, cyclones, landslides and earthquakes. Unless having a sound knowledge of managing calamities and disasters, how will 160 million people survive? We have also some natural resources like forest, gas, oil, rock, sand, coal etc. These can contribute a lot to the over-all development of the country. So, we have to learn Geography to know about the natural and mineral resources to exploit them, and to utilize them. Additionally, the study of Geography teaches how we can protect the environment.
Tertiary students in Bangladesh are not interested to study Geography. There is a miss-conception that it is a difficult subject, and Geography means drawing maps of Bangladesh and of the world. They think that there is a little scope for a good job after completing graduation in Geography. In secondary education the teachers are not skilled and they cannot teach the students in a proper way. Moreover, there are a small number of contents in the curriculum for Geography and therefore it is not taught as a separate subject. They do not or cannot inspire the students to realize the growing importance of Geography. In educational institutions, there is a shortage of Geography teaching-learning instruments. Even the teachers do not use those instruments whatever they have in schools, madrasas and colleges. As a result geography is losing its importance. Without some public universities, this subject is taught only in a small number of government colleges.
Some 50 government college Geography teachers held a conference at Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Dhaka on 6th April to reanimate the Geography teaching and learning in Bangladesh. They formed named BCS Geography Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh to work for the development of Geography education in Bangladesh. The renowned Geography teachers who attended the conference include Dr SK Rezaul Karim, Teachers’ Training College, Dhaka; Prof Motiar Rahman, Principal of Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Faridpur; Prof ASM Abu Sayed, Principal of Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Pabna; Prof Kamrunnahar, Ex-Chairman, Eden Mohila College, Dhaka; Prof Shamsunnahar, Chairperson, Dept of Ggeography, Eden Mohila College, Dhaka; Kazi Atikuzzaman, Assistant Professor Eden Mohila College, Dhaka; A.K.M Eliyas, Assistant Professor Dhaka College; Dr Syed Shahjahan Ahmed, Curriculum Specialist, NCTB; Dr DM Firoz Shah, Associate Professor, Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Barisal. They delivered their valuable speeches on the importance on geography and on how to expand the study of Geography. In the conference, they recommended to the Ministry of Education for including Geography in the secondary level as a compulsory subject and for opening Geography Departments in all the government colleges. Prof Motiar Rahman said, “The climate of Bangladesh is changing day by day. It has a great impact on Bangladesh economy. We have a lot of mineral and natural resources. But these are not used properly. As a result, in spite of having such resources, we cannot develop our economy. So, we should spread Geographical knowledge among the students.”
The assembled Geography teachers formed a 47 member national committee for next two years. The committee will be arranging seminars, workshops, conduct small research, publish reports in the research journals and in the dailies. They will also try to contribute to the curriculum development in different levels; building relation with other Geographical societies around the globe and exchanging experiences through dialogues and supporting the development activities of the government. In the committee, Prof Motiar Rahman was nominated as the President and Kazi Atikuzzaman as the Vice-president respectively. The Geography teachers promised to work for the improvement and spread the study for popularization of Geography education in the country.
The gathering of the Geographers was undoubtedly a praiseworthy initiative. It is expected that the popularizing Geography can be started from here. If this association runs actively, at least some of their expectations can be achieved. We also believe that without the knowledge of Geography, no other education can be on strong base.
The knowledge of Geography plays an important role in how a country can improve its economic situation and the standards of life and living of the inhabitants. Geography is the science that studies and describes the surface of the earth and its physical, biological, political, economic and demographic characteristics and the complex interrelations among all these factors. Most people are aware of the fact that the economy of Bangladesh stands in one of the poorly rated stage among the world nations and that the poverty rate is here too high to be compared with any developed countries. Though it is true that Bangladesh still struggles, yet it has recorded important progresses in the economic and human resource development. In Bangladesh, economic and human resource development depends much on the geographical factors. Therefore, it is influenced by on weather and climate, knowledge of the soil and water impact on economy. Bangladesh is considered a land of natural disasters due to its vulnerability to flood, river erosion, cyclones, landslides and earthquakes. Unless having a sound knowledge of managing calamities and disasters, how will 160 million people survive? We have also some natural resources like forest, gas, oil, rock, sand, coal etc. These can contribute a lot to the over-all development of the country. So, we have to learn Geography to know about the natural and mineral resources to exploit them, and to utilize them. Additionally, the study of Geography teaches how we can protect the environment.
Tertiary students in Bangladesh are not interested to study Geography. There is a miss-conception that it is a difficult subject, and Geography means drawing maps of Bangladesh and of the world. They think that there is a little scope for a good job after completing graduation in Geography. In secondary education the teachers are not skilled and they cannot teach the students in a proper way. Moreover, there are a small number of contents in the curriculum for Geography and therefore it is not taught as a separate subject. They do not or cannot inspire the students to realize the growing importance of Geography. In educational institutions, there is a shortage of Geography teaching-learning instruments. Even the teachers do not use those instruments whatever they have in schools, madrasas and colleges. As a result geography is losing its importance. Without some public universities, this subject is taught only in a small number of government colleges.
Some 50 government college Geography teachers held a conference at Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Dhaka on 6th April to reanimate the Geography teaching and learning in Bangladesh. They formed named BCS Geography Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh to work for the development of Geography education in Bangladesh. The renowned Geography teachers who attended the conference include Dr SK Rezaul Karim, Teachers’ Training College, Dhaka; Prof Motiar Rahman, Principal of Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Faridpur; Prof ASM Abu Sayed, Principal of Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Pabna; Prof Kamrunnahar, Ex-Chairman, Eden Mohila College, Dhaka; Prof Shamsunnahar, Chairperson, Dept of Ggeography, Eden Mohila College, Dhaka; Kazi Atikuzzaman, Assistant Professor Eden Mohila College, Dhaka; A.K.M Eliyas, Assistant Professor Dhaka College; Dr Syed Shahjahan Ahmed, Curriculum Specialist, NCTB; Dr DM Firoz Shah, Associate Professor, Govt. Teachers’ Training College, Barisal. They delivered their valuable speeches on the importance on geography and on how to expand the study of Geography. In the conference, they recommended to the Ministry of Education for including Geography in the secondary level as a compulsory subject and for opening Geography Departments in all the government colleges. Prof Motiar Rahman said, “The climate of Bangladesh is changing day by day. It has a great impact on Bangladesh economy. We have a lot of mineral and natural resources. But these are not used properly. As a result, in spite of having such resources, we cannot develop our economy. So, we should spread Geographical knowledge among the students.”
The assembled Geography teachers formed a 47 member national committee for next two years. The committee will be arranging seminars, workshops, conduct small research, publish reports in the research journals and in the dailies. They will also try to contribute to the curriculum development in different levels; building relation with other Geographical societies around the globe and exchanging experiences through dialogues and supporting the development activities of the government. In the committee, Prof Motiar Rahman was nominated as the President and Kazi Atikuzzaman as the Vice-president respectively. The Geography teachers promised to work for the improvement and spread the study for popularization of Geography education in the country.
The gathering of the Geographers was undoubtedly a praiseworthy initiative. It is expected that the popularizing Geography can be started from here. If this association runs actively, at least some of their expectations can be achieved. We also believe that without the knowledge of Geography, no other education can be on strong base.
(The writer is a first year Bachelor of Education honours student at Govt. Teachers Training College, Dhaka. He can be reached at email: [email protected])
