Country’s first ‘smart school’ starts its journey in Chuadanga

The government has introduced the country's first smart shool in sadar upazila of Chuadanga, aiming to stop school dropouts and make learning easier and more enjoyable.

The smart school is a technology-based teaching institution for preparing children for the Information Age.

Organisers of the school said the purpose of this initiative is to ensure a vibrant and effective teaching and learning environment for students to cope with future challenges as global citizens.

In smart schools, they said, technology is used in taking attendance and teaching in the classroom, making learning more interesting and enjoyable.

This first smart school of the country has been set up at Pirpur village under Alukdia Union Parishad in sadar upazila, at an expense of Tk 0.5 million. The activities of the school started on November 15 after it was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner of the district Gopal Das.

While talking to reporters, Afsar Uddin, a guardian, said once this school was in very bad shape. "Its teachers were not that much careful ...the presence of student was also very poor. Now, things have changed as the school has been renovated and the compound decorated with vibrant colours. Students now are going to the school spontaneously, cheerfully," he added.

Abdur Jabbar, president of Smart School Governing Body, said, "Not only the students, but also their guardians are very happy for being part of the country's first smart school.

The students are more attentive to their studies and their guardians have been more caring about them.

Two students of the school - Sumaiya and Robin - said they are very proud to be students of the country's first smart school, and they are enjoying their studies now.

Jannatul Ferdous, the head teacher of the school, said the number of attendance in the school has increased remarkably following its digital transformation.

She said their target is to help the students get exposed to digital learning and build them as worthy human resources.

Local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Washimul Bari, one of the organisers of this smart school, said four 'Rongin' (colourful) schools were established in the upazila earlier.

"The plan of launching a smart school came from the concept of colourful schools by bringing both the students and teachers under the digital attendance system. Alongside bringing it under electricity network, the school has also been brought under the surveillance of close circuit cameras."

Besides, the multimedia system and internet have been put in place in the school classrooms, UNB reported quoting the UNO.