1. Project of Teaching Quality and Capacity and Capacity Up Gradation of ‘Utsho Biddyaniketon’

Utsho Bangladesh has received a fund from Royal Danish Embassy, Dhaka for a project called Teaching Quality and Capacity Up Gradation of ‘Utsho Biddyaniketon’. It a three year long project started on February 2012. The main aims and objectives of this project are:

(1)To prepare and develop a model education curriculum along with life skills efficiency enhancement and physical and cultural activities.

(2)To build up capacity of school management and increasing residential facilities for quality and standard education of underprivileged children.

Through this project Utsho hope to achieve a capable group of people (Teachers, Staffs) who will be able to run the school as well as residential facilities of Utsho Bidyaniketon more efficiently and effectively. This will increase the capacity to admit more students in the school. Utsho Bidyaniketon in Sreepur will be developed as a model school which will address the basic needs of underprivileged and marginalized children in order to increase their potential and creativity to the fullest so that they become a good citizen who can contribute to the society as well as to the nation.

In these three yearly programs special emphasis has been placed on science education and adequate laboratories will be provided. This is a serious weakness in present day Bangladesh where science education is hampered by the lack of equipment and laboratories. In line with national curriculum Utsho also include Vocational Education in its curriculum. Public speaking, presentation skills and team work will be developed through debates, schools programs. Basic health education, health care, reproductive health, alternative fitness practices such as mediation, yoga, awareness of ayurvedic etc is included in this training program. Emergency response: it also integrates First Aid, fire safety and traffic safety and provides training to the students. Physical education is also an important part in this curriculum so that both girls and boys have equal opportunities for physical development and fitness. This will include popular sports, cycling as well as martial arts. Vocational Education Training is a practical choice for young people of working age who cannot continue formalize technical training either due to family circumstances or financial reasons and allows them to participate in a skilled trade. Another crucial component in this project is set up a counseling team. This special skill will be developed internally by providing training to the selected teachers by the help of experts in this field. This team will have the capacity to carry out counseling for students.

Technical school will commence for students after class nine. From this class they will be divided into two streams. One will be for those who will proceed to formal higher education (colleges and universities) and the other will go into the technical/vocational stream. Curriculum for the technical/ vocational education will be in conformity with government standards. At the appropriate time, Utsho will seek registration with the Technical Education Board under the Ministry of Education.

Teaching capacity will also be strengthened. A review will be carried out to assess Utsho’s approaches and measures taken to improve on them. Need Assessment will be carried out for teachers, hostel supervisors, management staff in order to assess their familiarity with appropriate child development approaches. Utsho believes in being open to children with special needs such as physical and learning disabilities, children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds such as children of sex workers. However, both teachers and hostel supervisors need to develop their skills to deal with such children. In general teachers’ capacity will be developed through training in teaching methodology and child psychology. By the end of third year Utsho can reach the target of setting-up a residential vocational training center in Sreepur School,70 students will receive technical education, 280 students per year will be benefited from the expanded general education, 50% graduates will be helped with job placement and 20% will be self-employed etc.

2. Project of Utsho Village

In 2005 1.75 acres of land, at Sreepur, Gazipur were donated by two Bangladeshi Industrialists. They are Mr. Kazi Zeeshan Hasan and Kazi Zahin Hasan. And Danish industrialist Dr. Haldor Topsoe has provided the funds to construct the school building. The layout of the complex has conceived like a traditional village with individual buildings clustered around courtyards and open spaces. It will be a self contained campus for children and fully integrated learning facilities such as; a school, a boys dormitory, a girls dormitory, a dining hall, a clinic, a multipurpose hall, staff accommodation, a guest house, a gate house and an amphitheater.

3. Education

Project goal, objectives and outputs:

Objective
Holistic approach to education designed to include general education, life skills, technical, cultural and physical education.

3.2.1. General Education:
Utsho has a 7 year curriculum education delivery plan that will come into action once the new campus is established, with the aim of teaching a full class range from grades 1-12. Initially however, classes will only go up to grade threshold, whether Utsho will assess the need and basis for establishing senior grades through evaluation of student retention rates.

The following will supplement the government curriculum:
• Special emphasis will be placed on science education and adequate laboratories will be provided. This is a serious weakness in present day Bangladesh where science education is hampered by the lack of equipment and laboratories.
• Public speaking, presentation skills and team work will be developed through debates, schools programs.
• Basic health education, health care, reproductive health, alternative fitness practices such as mediation, yoga, awareness of ayurvedic and yoga expert in South India who could train a team in Utsho to carry out these activities and provide care and training for the student.
• Emergency response: including First Aid, fire safety and traffic safety.

Teaching capacity will also be strengthened. A review will be carried out to assess Utsho’s approaches and measures taken to improve on them. Need Assessment will be carried out for teachers, hostel supervisors, management staff in order to assess their familiarity with appropriate child development approaches. Utsho believes in being open to children with special needs such a s physical and learning disabilities, children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds such as children of sex workers. However, both teachers and hostel supervisors need to develop their skills to deal with such children. In general teachers’ capacity will be developed through training in teaching methodology and child psychology.

3.2.2. Science Education
Special emphasis will be placed on science education and adequate laboratories will be provided. This is a serious weakness in present day Bangladesh where science education is hampered by the lack of equipment and laboratories.

3.2.3. Physical Education
We plan to incorporate physical education formally into the curriculum so that the girls and boys have equal opportunities for physical development and fitness. This will include popular sports, cycling as well as martial arts. We would like to emphasize equal participation by both girls and boys.

3.2.4. Technical Education
Utsho’s Vocational Education training (VET) Program will establish formalized technical training, including business development. Building upon our current tailoring and catering operations and capabilities, tailoring and course will be provided. Childcare will be another important area to focus, considering its growing importance with the participation of women in the formal labor force.

VET skills developed is a practical choice for young people – of working age- who cannot continue formalized technical training either due to family circumstances or financial reasons and allows them to participate in a skilled trade. For some, earnings from such skills may allow continuing or re-entry into formal schooling.

It is vital that trainees have access to employment prospect; training will always be directed to that objective. Cooperation with other institutions that have conducted surveys of skill recruitment and market opportunities will be vital. In specific cases such as for Sreepur area, Utsho may also need to conducted limited surveys

Proposed trades:

Non –traditional
• Care giving for young children and the aged
• Driving
• Health technicians
• Physiotherapy
• Computer skills and maintenance.

Traditional
• Catering and professional cooking
• Tailoring, batik, block-printing, embroidery
• Carpentry
• Plumbing
• Electronic skills
• Small engineering
• Electrical skills
• Agriculture

Curriculum will be developed on the basis of demand identified for each skill mentioned above. Existing curricula will be reviewed and developed further, as necessary. In the first phase we will start with training in catering and professional cooking, tailoring, batik, block printing and embroidery and basic computer skills and maintenance.

It is proposed that these will be long term courses (1-2 years) that student would start in class 9.

Utsho is currently is discussion with various childcare experts and practitioners to develop suitable childcare course modules.

3.2.5. Cultural Education: Children’s creativity development:
For developing creativity among the children, Utsho already has a small scale creative learning program which includes craft, drawing and painting. This will be further expanded. Creative writing skills will be developed through contributions to regular magazines to be brought out by Utsho, which will showcase the children’s thought and ideas. Regular classes will be given on drawing, painting, singing, dancing, acting/ theatre, including public speaking. Classes will be provided on arts and crafts. Finally, heritage education will be provided and will include teaching students local cultural traditions, caring for heritage monuments etc.

Output
• The curriculum will be developed to include modules on life skills, physical and cultural education.
• Teacher trained in providing education in above mentioned areas.
• 280 students per year will be benefited from the expanded general education.
• Set-up for residential vocational training put into place in Sreepur School by year 3.
• 70 students will receive technical education in 3 years.
• 50% graduates will be helped with job placement and 20% will be self-employed.

Objective 2
Utsho capacity development to manage the school and residential facilities as well as ensure quality education for underprivileged and marginalized children.

3.2.6. Utsho Capacity Development:
Management: Utsho will need to develop its capacity to manage a larger school and education program. Management development activities will be undertaken for existing staff. This will be preceded by an assessment of skills and identification of needs. Institutional linkages will be explored with various management institutions to provide such support to Utsho.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Utsho’s capacity to monitor the education program, its own management and finances, students’ progress, placements will need to be strengthened and streamlined in accordance with its increased capacity.

Counseling: Utsho will develop internal capacity to carry our counseling for students by providing the necessary training to selected teachers and setting up space that will be arranged in such a way as to provide privacy and a secluded and comfortable space for children of all ages. Child counseling often requires the use of toys, music and materials.

Output
• Service rules prepared
• Financial manual and guidelines prepared.
• Staff trained in counseling.
• Teachers trained in dealing with marginalized students and in the holistic approach to education.

4. Monitoring and Reporting
In the first three months of the project the necessary monitoring formats and processes will be designed and tested.
Utsho will prepare monthly internal finances and project progress. These will be places quarterly to the school up gradation project committee and executive committee and six-monthly to the RDE.
Progress will be audited externally on an annual basis by a qualified firm enlisted with the NGOAB.

5. Staffing and Organogram

6. Work Plan

7. Budget

8. Budget Summary 2012-2014