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Introducing
the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme in Bangladesh.
By Afreen Khan and Nusrat The
IB programme is an internationally acknowledged course managed by the
International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO), a non-profit educational
organisation, which introduced this programme in the 1960s. At present,
there are 1,464 schools that are authorised to offer IB programmes in
115 countries. The IB programme is set in a curriculum that aims to
build a well-rounded student who have developed their individual talents
and have learnt to relate the experience of the classroom to the realities
of the world outside. Beyond intellectual rigour and high academic standards,
strong emphasis is placed on the ideals of international understanding
and responsible citizenship, to the end that IB students may become
critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners and informed
participants in local and world affairs, conscious of the shared humanity
that binds all people together while respecting the variety of cultures
and attitudes that makes for the richness of life. The IB programme is divided into 3 parts based on students' ages. The curriculum divisions, set for students aged 3 years to 18 years, are as follows: ·
The Primary Years Programme (PYP)Ê The
Primary Years Programme: The
PYP serves as an excellent introduction to the Middle Years Programme,
but it is not a prerequisite for this or for the Diploma Programme.
The
Middle Years Programme: The
framework is flexible enough to allow a school to include other subjects
not determined by the IBO but which might be required by local authorities.
After consultation with the IBO, and provided certain conditions are
met, schools enjoy much flexibility in terms of language of instruction
and languages taught. The MYP, like the other two programmes of the
International Baccalaureate Organisation, is based on the premise that
education can foster understanding among young people around the world.
Intercultural awareness is central to the programme, to enable future
generations to live more peacefully and productively than we do The
Diploma Programme: The
programme has earned a reputation for rigorous assessment, giving IB
diploma holders access to the world's leading universities. The Diploma
Programme's grading system is criterion-referenced, which means that
each student's performance is measured against well-defined levels of
achievement. These are consistent from one examination session to the
next and are applied equally to all schools. It generally allows students
to fulfill the requirements of their national or state education systems.
The Diploma Programme incorporates the best elements of national systems,
without being based on any one. The
programme was born of efforts to establish a common curriculum and university
entry credential for students moving from one country to another. International
educators were motivated by practical considerations but also by an
idealistic vision. They believed that students should share an academic
experience that would emphasize critical thinking, intercultural understanding
and exposure to a variety of points of view. Internationally mobile
students are able to transfer from one IB school to another. Students
who remain closer to home benefit from a highly respected international
curriculum. The IBO has shown, over the course of 30 years, that students
are well prepared for university work. They are accepted by universities
in more than 110 countries. Bangladesh has recently become a part of the IBO. International School of Dhaka (ISD) is the first school in Bangladesh to introduce this programme to the students of the country. This will be of great advantage to students looking forward to pursuing higher studies abroad in almost any country, as this programme is more widely accepted than the national HSC and the GCE A' Level examinations. Reading
Habit" by, Ayesha Mahmud A wise
man once said "Everywhere have I sought rest and found it not,
except sitting apart in a nook with a little book." I remember
reading my first book when I was six. It was one of those "Read-it-Yourself"
books by Ladybird, and I doubt whether the entire book had more than
fifty words. But I can still remember the joy I felt while flipping
through its pages. Back then, the only place to find good books was
New Market. The stores there always had a very good stock of books for
children and adults. I used to love sitting on the dusty floor and going
through large piles of Enid Blyton books. Growing
up in Dhaka city was never easy. There were no parks or playgrounds
where my friends and I could play safely. But reading books opened my
eyes to a whole new world. It allowed me to escape reality and to explore
unknown lands. I was no longer a girl trapped in a congested city. I
could go wherever my imagination would take me. During my junior school
years, reading books helped me immensely with my schoolwork. As soon
as I began to read at home, my vocabulary increased and my writing improved,
although I must admit that I ignored my homework on many days, in order
to finish reading a particularly exciting book. But
the times have changed and reading is no longer as popular as it used
to be. In today's fast-paced world, most of us hardly find any time
to read books. Whenever we do find a little time, we usually spend it
in front of the television or the computer. As much as I hate to admit
it, I know there are times when I would prefer to watch a movie than
to read a book. Children, nowadays, are more interested in video games
and movies than in books. However, in recent years, many good book stores
have opened in Dhaka, such as Etcetera and Bookworm. These shops are
decorated nicely and their shelves are stocked with books covering a
wide range of topics. The atmosphere inside is warm and inviting, and
the books are almost begging to be picked up and read. Even our beloved
Gyankosh and Boi Bichitra has a new look these days. The recent "Harry
Potter" craze has also helped popularize reading amongst children
(and many adults!). But the question remains-Is reading losing out in
popularity? It is obvious that many kids are picking up the latest Harry
Potter book just because it is "fashionable" to do so, or
because they do not want to feel left out when their friends talk about
Harry's latest adventures. When the two "Lord of the Rings"
movies based on J.R.R. Tolkein's famous novel were released, people
rushed to the bookstores to grab a copy of the famous book. The ironic
thing was that although the novel has been around for ages, before the
movies were released, people were simply not interested. It is really
sad that we cannot use our own imagination, and we have to rely on the
filmmaker to create the images for us. Having said all that, I know that there are many people who still enjoy reading and who spend some of their happiest moments curled in bed with a book. Contrary to popular belief, reading is not an extinct habit amongst teenagers. Although browsing the Internet and playing video games may be more popular these days, I know many people who still love to spend an afternoon reading a good book. Technology may be progressing at a fast pace, but the habit of reading books will be around for years to come. Book Review Cujo by Stephen King Stephen
King is at his best when he can scare you with the simplest of issues.
He is no different in his novel Cujo published in 1982. This book, shorter
than his other novels such as It and The Shining, deals with the horrors
that ensue when a lovable pet dog becomes rabid. Sure enough, upon completion
of the book, you will think twice before getting a large pet mutt! The
story takes place in Castle Rock, where we are introduced to two families-
the Torrances and the Cambers. Vic Torrance, working for an ad agency,
is struggling hard to keep a certain client happy while we find his
wife Donna coming out of a fling with the local furnisher, Steve Kemp,
who is angry at being jilted. Then there is Tad Torrance, a five-year-old
who believes that his closet is the lair of the local boogeyman, and
can only sleep when his father reads out the Monster Words, to him at
night. Vic has a Jaguar that he takes to Joe Camber, the local garage
owner. A disgruntled drunk, he is admired by his son Brett for the "power"
that he shows and is spited yet loved by his very unhappy wife, Charity.
Cujo, a two hundred pound Saint Bernard is also a family member. Though
imposing to look at, Cujo appears to be harmless as he slobbers up Tad
Torrance at first glance. The
trouble starts when Cujo chases a rabbit down a hole and is scratched
on his muzzle by a rabid bat. As the wound starts to heal, the symptoms
of rabies appear. On the other hand, Vic learns of Donna's affair, thanks
to an anonymous letter from the ditched lover. As angry as Vic is, he
has more pressing matters to look to and leaves for a two-week visit
for New York. Donna is left in a limbo with her son, who doesn't want
his father to go off for so long. Charity
Cambers is in a dilemma. Winning 5000 dollars in a lottery, she makes
a deal with her husband. She wants to take her son to see her sister,
married to a lawyer and living, according to Charity, like decent people.
Joe lets them go, only because he plans to go off too, with his neighbour
Gary. Cujo
first shows signs of animosity the morning Charity and Brett go off.
Soon enough, the disease takes him over and he goes on a murderous rampage.
His first victim is Gary, whose throat he makes a meal out of. Joe Camber
discovers a very bloody and gored Gary. As the garage owner slips in
his friend's blood and attempts to call 911, Cujo gets him too.
Meanwhile,
Donna's Pinto's ticking valve drives her nuts and she decides to drive
to Joe Camber's garage with Tad for company. As soon as she gets there,
she comes face to face with Devil Incarnate himself, Cujo. The dog repeatedly
attacks the small car but the duo is safe. As Donna attempts to restart
the engine, it gives out on her and both of them are stuck in the garage
front yard…for 2 days!! Steve
Kemp attempts another joke at the Torrances, trespassing on their property
and leaving the house, as if hit by a tornado. Vic realizes that no
one is picking up the phone at home. He panics, calls the local police,
who discover the messed up house and call him up. He flies back home
fearing kidnap and murder. With
the advent of the hottest summer in some years, Donna and Tad struggle
to survive in the Pinto's sizzling interior. Their small supply of food
and drink run out and Tad even goes into seizure, twice. Donna's attempts
to make a break for the Camber's porch is greeted with an insane Saint
Bernard, which manages to take bites at her leg and her stomach. With
Tad on the brink of life after two days, Donna is willing to go for
it with the taped baseball bat lying on the grass near Tad's side of
the car. George
Bannermann, the local police, is sent to the Camber garage on a hunch
that the missing Pinto might be there. As he steps out of his car, Cujo
comes at him, making a mess out of his bowels in front of the horror-stricken
Torrances. Donna seizes the opportunity and comes out of the car, meeting
the dog for the last time. As she mauls the very sick dog with the baseball
bat and hears the bones crunch, Vic drives in. As the dog gives out
its last dying breath, Vic runs to Donna. He then runs to the car only
to discover that little Tad has passed away too. The novel ends in a morose note. Charity and Brett try their best to cope with life without Joe while the Torrances are yet to get over their loss. The story is spectacularly written, with numerous bad coincidences building up and uniting for the last, tragic one. By
ArmeeN |
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