Kulaura primary schools turning colourful for young learners
Mintu Deshwara with Andrew Eagle
Pioneering Sharif-ul-Islam, who works as the upazila primary education officer in Moulvibazar's Kulaura, knows how to make a lot from a little. In efforts to encourage attendance and inspire young learners, he has set about transforming the upazila's 193 primary schools from drab, run-of-the-mill institutions into campuses that can only delight. Most of Kulaura's primary schools have become “colourful schools”.
“The majority of children who attend our school,” says Abu Sayeed Md Shafique Rahman Siddique, head teacher of Amir Solfu Government Primary School in Kulaura, “are from struggling rural families. Earlier, we had attendance problems and a troubling dropout rate. But since Sharif-ul-Islam implemented his idea, the situation has changed.”
“Nowadays our students are much more attracted to the school,” continues Siddique, who won a national Best Primary Teacher award in 2010.
“To see their enthusiasm and participation, not to mention the improved attendance rates, is extraordinary.”
When Sharif first took his Kulaura posting in 2013, he arrived with the long-term objective of improving education quality and the condition of local schools.
“I talked to the government primary school teachers,” he says, “I listened to their problems and offered what help I could, within our capacity.
“At the same time, I tried to communicate a vision of schools where teachers are respected and appreciated for their contribution,” he says.
As a part of this vision, and starting with a single school, Sharif decided to make the school building and grounds more attractive. “Under the title 'My Dreams, My School', I motivated staff and students to take pride in their institution,” he says.
His hope was that renovated infrastructure would foster qualitative change within the classroom, by motivating teachers, parents and students alike.
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