Workshop on learning gaps in Char areas held in Bogura
Speakers at the workshop pointed out that recurrent floods, river erosion, poverty, and infrastructural limitations disrupt the continuity of education in char regions.
They stressed the need for sustainable and practical measures to enhance the quality of education.
A research validation workshop focusing on identifying learning gaps among students in char (riverine island) areas and exploring pathways to address them was held at the Rural Development Academy (RDA), Bogura on Wednesday.
The workshop, titled “Unpacking the Underachievement: Learning Outcomes of Grade Eight Students in Char Schools in a Climate Vulnerability Context,” presented preliminary research findings and gathered expert opinions for validation.
Dr. Md. Shafiqur Rashid, Director (Research and Evaluation) at RDA said that nearly 10 million people in Bangladesh live in char areas, a significant portion of whom are exposed to climate vulnerabilities. He emphasised that multiple challenges in these regions are hindering students from achieving expected learning outcomes.
He further highlighted that the present government has undertaken various initiatives to integrate char communities into the mainstream of development, and RDA Bogura continues to contribute through research-driven interventions to improve educational quality in these areas.
Experts also underscored the importance of adopting alternative education models, integrating technology-based learning, and designing context-specific strategies tailored to the unique realities of char areas. They concluded that such research and validation workshops play a vital role in informing evidence-based policymaking
The event took place in the RDA conference hall on Wednesday. The Director General of RDA, Dr. Md. Abdul Majid Pramanik, attended as the chief guest. The session was chaired by Director (Training) Md. Delwar Hossain and was attended by renowned educationists, researchers, and officials from the education administration.
Distinguished discussants included Professor Dr. Md. Hafizur Rahman, Dr. Shah Shamim Ahmed, and Dr. Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui from the Institute of Education and Research, University of Dhaka; Professor Dr. Md. Khademul Islam, Principal of Dhaka Teachers’ Training College; Dr. Mostafizur Rahman, Deputy Director of the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE); Md. Shafiqul Islam, District Education Officer of Kurigram; former RDA Director Dr. AKM Zakaria; and Dr. Moksedul Hamid, among others.
The keynote research paper was presented by Dr. Md. Shafiqur Rashid, Director (Research and Evaluation) at RDA, while the workshop was moderated by Joint Director Md. Tanbirul Islam.
