A two-day teacher training program for nearly 70 mathematics teachers and head teachers from 21 secondary schools across four upazilas in Panchagarh ended on Saturday.
Jointly organized by Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), SAJIDA Foundation, and Kazi Farms Group, the workshop titled "Khan Academy Bangladesh Masterclass" and the closing ceremony were held at Eco Mahananda Cottage in Tetulia and attended by participating secondary school teachers, head teachers, and senior government officials.
Participating mathematics teachers received hands-on practical training on using classroom technology to make math learning accessible and engaging through the 'Khan Academy Bangladesh' platform. Additionally, head teachers gained detailed insights into utilising the platform's monitoring dashboard to observe school-level progress and performance. Alongside training, technical repair support is being provided to ensure functional digital equipment across participating schools.
At the closing ceremony, Chief Guest Nahida Parvin, Deputy Director (Research & Innovation Section, DSHE), stated: "As a mathematics student and educator myself, I deeply understand the necessity of math. Math is a subject where one concept cannot be understood without grasping its prerequisites; therefore, learning with conceptual understanding is crucial."
She further noted: "The government and all stakeholders are committed to ensuring quality education. I extend special thanks to the organizers for bringing such innovative projects to remote areas like Panchagarh. Our primary objective should be to spread development to peripheral regions across the country, rather than focusing solely on Dhaka."
Azwa Nayeem, CEO of Khan Academy Bangladesh, delivered the welcome address. She expressed gratitude to head teachers, teachers, and government officials, stating: "The Khan Academy platform plays a highly effective role in creating tech-supported classrooms. We seek everyone's full cooperation so that students, teachers, and head teachers can seamlessly use this platform to achieve math proficiency." She also extended sincere thanks to Kazi Farms for providing financial support to run operations in Panchagarh.
Attending the event, Md. Shariful Islam, Head Teacher of Bhojonpur Dimukhi High School, expressed his determination to track student progress via the dashboard to elevate all students to the 'Mastered' or proficient level in math.
Kazi Zeeshan Hasan, Director of Kazi Farms Group, stated in his speech: "Alongside business, Kazi Farms aims to create a positive impact on society through education. As we have multiple business operations in Panchagarh, we are delighted to contribute to the expansion of quality education in this remote and peripheral region of the country."
Among others, Jeshan Ahmed, Research Officer (Planning & Development Division, DSHE), Khairul Anam Md. Aftabur Rahman Helali (District Education Officer, Panchagarh), Ramizah Ahmed (Manager, Partnership & Fundraising Unit, SAJIDA Foundation), Khandaker Ahmed Ali (General Manager, Kazi Farms Limited), Upazila Secondary Education Officers, and other local administrative officials were present at the event.
With financial and technical support from SAJIDA Foundation and Kazi Farms, and with approval from DSHE, 'Khan Academy Bangladesh' is currently running its operations across 100 secondary schools in 7 districts -- Dhaka, Cumilla, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Chandpur, and Panchagarh.