NU moves to bring back Rover Scouting course
The National University (NU) has moved to reintroduce a Rover Scouting course in its undergraduate (pass) and honours curricula, aiming to strengthen students’ ethical, social and human values.
NU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ASM Amanullah announced the initiative at the 156th meeting of the Regional Executive Committee of Bangladesh Rover Scouts at the Scouts Bhaban in Kakrail on Saturday.
The proposed course will be designed to meet contemporary and international standards by combining scouting with moral education, spiritual development and socio-cultural values, Professor Amanullah said.
The meeting discussed reconsidering the introduction of a one-credit scouting course for NU students and decided that a concept paper would be prepared in this regard. The vice-chancellor also stressed closer integration of scouting with volunteerism and co-curricular activities alongside academic programmes.
He said scouts would work as volunteers during the ‘Prime Minister’s Gold Cup’, while calling for ‘visible scouting’ to make scouting activities more noticeable.
Referring to a major scouting event scheduled for December, in which the Prime Minister is expected to participate, Professor Amanullah said preparations should begin immediately for its successful arrangement.
He also advised that moot and adventure camps be organised regularly and in a planned manner.
The NU vice-chancellor said initiatives would be taken to connect language learning with scouting.
He said efforts would be made to explore how scouting could be linked with third-language education and instructed that a Rover Scout be involved in the activities of the university’s Language Club.
Professor Amanullah also said an initiative would be taken to celebrate ‘Happy Learning Day’ every year to establish scouting more effectively as part of enjoyable, creative and life-oriented education.
Emphasising the role of scouts in environmental conservation, he said, “We will plant two crore trees. We want to involve scouts in this programme.”
He stressed that tree planting alone would not be enough and that necessary measures must be taken to ensure the survival of the trees.
The vice-chancellor called on scouts to play a responsible role not only in planting trees but also in caring for and protecting them.
Professor Amanullah also called for greater private-sector and community participation in scouting activities.
“We should not depend on the government for everything; philanthropists and socially conscious people also should come forward,” he said.
Director General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education and Commissioner of Bangladesh Scouts Rover Region Professor Dr Khan Moinuddin Al Mahmud Sohel, National University Registrar Molla Mahfuz Al-Hossain, Bangladesh Scouts Rover Region Vice-President Professor Md Shahidul Islam, Treasurer Professor AKM Selim Chowdhury and other members of the regional executive committee attended the meeting.
