Bangladesh has emerged as an economic miracle over the past decade and that growth has been fueled by a growing demand for education.
“By harnessing the power of peer-to-peer learning with technology we can create a system that is adaptive, responsible and goal oriented. We worked enrollment for a long time. Now that we’re there, we need to ensure quality," said Zareen Mahmud Hosein, managing director and founder of CholPori.
She hopes to introduce blended learning to all of the students across Bangladesh by incorporating blended learning in the curriculum.
Blended learning or hybrid learning, also known as technology-mediated instruction, web-enhanced instruction, or mixed-mode instruction, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with physical place-based classroom methods.
CholPori, a digital learning platform, on Monday hosted a roundtable discussion on blended learning for Bangladesh.
Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director and CEO of Campaign for Popular Education (Campe), and Zareen Mahmud Hosein, managing director and founder of CholPori, chaired the session.
Discussants talked about both the possible challenges and the potential that could occur when implementing blended learning at a larger scale.
CholPori showed data from its pilot study from 56 schools in Hathazari upazila of Chittagong, and stated an improvement in both English and math at those schools.
Sadia Tasfina, education team lead at CholPori, said that 94% teachers have said they wanted to continue using the CholPori platform.
Prof Rumi Jasmine, senior specialist, communication wing of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), said: “There needs to be an emphasis on teacher training.”
With the birth of AI and its surrounding the tech world, Munia Islam Mazumdar, CEO at Teach for Bangladesh asked: “Is AI increasing or reducing teaching capacity?”
She reiterated that teachers needed to bridge the gap between the digital revolution and students' ability to adapt to the new digital tools available.
“There is a big market opportunity in Bangladesh, but we have to pitch the idea right and correctly portray the market situation to potential investors,” said Muhymin Chowdhury, director - impact investments, partnerships and communication at Sajida Foundation.
Sajida Foundation is currently investing in “Kaan Pete Roi,” a mental health organization, CholPori, Shikho -- another ed tech company -- and a number of similar organizations.
“We cannot be the one making platforms, that’s not a part of our job, we are to invest thoughtfully,” Muhymin Chowdhury added.
Reefat Bin Sattar, director of program development and quality at Save the Children Bangladesh, said: “We all seem to be mimicking each other, but we need to be helping each other and do the parts that haven't been done yet.”
Roadmap
Everyone agreed that Covid-19 had a big impact on furthering expectations and how blended learning has propelled because of the pandemic.
Covid has been a blessing in disguise, especially in terms of blended learning, said Sattar.
The government wants to help but the action plans suggested needs to be realized, Rasheda K Chowdhury suggested.
“When the teachers will say that ‘I am the solution’, only then can blended education be implemented. Instead of just case studies there should be evidence based advocacy as well."
“Our government is always there to listen to us, so we need to present to them our case supported with facts,” the Campe executive director also said.
She also urged that other stakeholders responsible for a child's education, especially the parents, should be involved in creating this new curriculum that blends technology with in person learning.
To support the coalescence amongst teachers Katerina Don, co-founder of CholPori said: “I hope by working together, we can move the needle.”
