A school with a difference

A “smart school” in Pirpur village of Chuadanga has created quite a buzz within two months of being transformed.

Pirpur Government Primary School is attracting a good number of students with its modern classrooms and trained teachers.

With funds from the government, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Washimul Bari in November last year installed computers with internet access, display monitors, and sound systems in three classrooms after giving them coats of colourful paint.

Back up for power failures was installed along with solar panels on the roof.

The renovation was done with Tk 500,000 granted under project “Local Government Support (LGS)” funded by the World Bank, said Washimul.

It was done to make the learning process interesting and enjoyable.

Over 380 students got enrolled following the renovation, the UNO said, which is 114 more than the year before. “We are now thinking about launching a second shift,” he told this paper.

Three out of the seven teachers received intensive training on the usage of multimedia in classrooms. The Primary Teachers' Training Institute organised the trainings in Khulna and Dhaka.

“The entire schooling system has changed. Both students and guardians seem enthusiastic,” said Abdul Zabbar, president of the school governing body. 

Abu Hena, a farmer in the village, said his eight-year-old son Musabbir studies in class-III. “He happily goes to school every day with his friends.”

Rajon Ali, a student of class-IV, said, “We are learning on large screens and we are seeing many new things every day that we never saw before.” 

Head teacher Jannatul Ferdous said, “Every day people from different villages visit the school and show interest in enrolling their children.” 

Washimul Bari is elated by the response of locals. “This is just the beginning,” he said, hoping that the school would do even better in future. 

The entire school is under CCTV surveillance.