EENET asia Newsletters : Third issue November 2006 Contents

Nine Mile Registered Non-Government Primary School

Shahriar Islam

Mr.Thandar Kishore Tripura is the head teacher at Nine Mile Registered Non-government Primary School in Dighinala Upazila of Khagrachari District in the Chittagong Hills Tracts of Bangladesh. Most of the people in this area are from indigenous minority ethnic groups which have languages and cultures different from the dominant Bengali population.

Nine Mile Registered Non-government Primary School is a small school with approximately 100 children in grades 1 to 5. All of the children are from the Tripura indigenous group. Tripura is their mother tongue and the language of communication in their communities. The exception is in the school where Bangla is the language of instruction. Mr. Thandar explained that all children when they enter grade 1 do not speak or understand Bangla and admits that this is a problem for them. Not understanding what is being taught contributes to a high drop out and poor attendance in most schools in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Teachers in Nine Mile Registered Non-government Primary School are trying to make education more child-friendly, especially in the lower grades of primary. Though teachers feel obligated to use Bangla in the classroom since it is the official language, they do use the children’s mother tongue to explain ideas or instructions. The children’s mother tongue is not recognised officially for use in government schools.
Due to the commitment of the head teacher, the other teachers also take their job seriously. They feel that it is important for parents to be involved in the school. Teachers at the school like Mr. Thandar, regularly take the time to talk to parents and explain the importance and value of education When a child does not come to school without a reason, a teacher or Mr. Thandar will visit the home of the child and discuss the reason the child is not at school.

The national curriculum does not reflect their language, culture or way of life. During Jhum cultivation [slash and burn cultivation] most parents take their children to the Jhum field rather than leave them alone in the village to attend school. But the school calendar does not recognise this yearly event. For example this year when parents and children return from cultivation the school is closed for Ramadan. To address this, the teachers are working together to form a policy or system for a more flexible school calendar for areas with indigenous people.

Zabarang Kalyan Samity a local indigenous NGO has begun working with the school to improve the quality of education. In partnership with the local communities and the school, Zabarang will support mother tongue education with a transition into Bangla within a child-friendly learning environment. They will also support advocacy for a flexible school calendar and localised curriculum.

From an interview with Mr. Thandar Kishore Tripura, Head Teacher of Nine Mile Registered Non-government Primary School, Khagrachari by Mr. Shahriar Islam, Save the Children UK

EENET asia Newsletters : Third issue November 2006 Contents