Component 2

Quality Improvement in Schools and Classrooms

Sub-component 2. 1:

The Environment for Learning

Objectives:

To improve the physical environment for schooling
To strengthen the Primary Curriculum Wing of the National Curriculum and Text Book Board (NCTB) through organizational capacity building
To ensure that sufficient textbooks, curriculum guides and materials are provided to all Bangladesh primary schools to enhance quality teaching and learning.

Interventions:

Develop Primary School Quality Standard (PSQL) to ensure physical and qualitative facilities of education. Establish a Quality Improvement Cell
Increase the proportion of female teachers to 60% of all primary school teachers by 2009
Reduce teacher-student ratio up to 1 :46 with 750 contact hours per annum
Resources to satellite schools for longer term viability and PSQL standard
Capacity building of the primary curriculum wing of NCTB as a fully resourced and semi-autonomous unit
Improve textbook and supplementary reading materials, reading and teaching learning materials including teachers guide. Proper distribution system of textbooks
Annual Research Grant to encourage teachers
Develop a network of quality teaching practice schools associated with Primary Training Institute (PTI)
Introduce district specialist team for training courses in education management and newly appointed head teachers under PTI

Sub-component 2.2:

Teachers & Teaching

Objectives:

To enhance the capacity of the National Academy for Primary Education (NAPE) to effectively undertake its role in providing academic and technical support for the improvement of primary education in Bangladesh
To enhance the quality of teaching in primary schools
To enhance the quality of teaching in primary schools through improving the support provided to teachers for career development and enhancement
To improve the physical and professional quality of Primary Training Institutes (PTls) to enable them to deliver quality primary teacher training
To improve the quality and delivery of in-service primary teacher training as an extension to the initial teacher training program, through a sequence of career development modules
To improve the quality of Head Teachers as a key element in achieving quality teaching and learning in primary schools
To develop URCs to provide and facilitate the delivery of in-service teacher training and professional support in each Upazila

Interventions:

Initial primary school teacher training
Capacity building of the National Academy for Primary Education
Primary Teacher Registration Board for registering primary teachers
Recruit and deploy 35,000 qualified primary school teachers
Upgrade entry qualifications of primary teachers and improve Certificate in Education training
Introduce 'Excellent teachers award'
Introduce record of professional development for every primary school teacher
URC training and sub-cluster training for every teacher

Sub-component 2.3:

Community Awareness And Support

Objectives:

To facilitate greater community participation in, and support for, educational improvement in Bangladesh primary schools

Interventions:

Empowering SMCs to assist in overcoming the problem of teacher absenteeism and local issues
Public awareness campaign at the community level for their participation in schools, education and child health
School support fund to SMCs
Establish appropriate interfaces between SMCs and Parent Teachers' Associations (PTAs)