Access to Information (a2i) Programme, Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Children’s Film Society Bangladesh will work together on developing interactive and multidimensional quality learning and extra-curricular contents and extending online access to them to empower students unleash their creativity and realize their full potential. a2i Programme of the Prime Minister’s Office has taken an initiative to enhance students’ creativity, nourish their talents and create a healthy environment for entertainment. This initiative will enrich young minds with extra-curricular books and films as well as fun experiments, comics, games that promote healthy competition among teenagers.
On 9 January 2017, two separate Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with Bishwo Sahitto Kendro (BSK) and Children’s Film Society (CFS), Bangladesh at the SSF Briefing Room, Prime Minister’s Office. Mr. Kabir Bin Anwar, Director General (Administration) and Project Director of a2i Programme, Prime Minister’s Office; Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Chairman and Chief Executive of BSK, and Munira Morshed Munni, General Secretary of CFS, Bangladesh signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective organizations. Mr Anir Chowdhury, Policy Adviser, a2i Programme; Naimuzzaman Mukta, Local Development Specialist, a2i Programme; Senior Officials from Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Children Film Society Bangladesh; and journalists from traditional and new media outlets were present at this MoU signing ceremony as well.
In order to implement Vision 2021, a2i, with technical support from the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department of Shahjalal University of Science and Technolgy (SUST), is developing a web-based platform called ‘Kishore Connect’ (Domain: Konnect.bangla) to support quality learning contents and textbooks under the guidance and support of popular writers and renowned educationist Professor Muhammed Zafar Iqbal. Encouraged by this, BSK and CFS have decided to share their creative contents on this portal as well.
At present, due to the ubiquity of ICTs and the rapid expansion of the internet; students often engage in unnecessary and at times even harmful internet based activity. But, due to the lack of adequate educational materials and platforms in Bengali language, many have become addicted to what can only be termed as abuse of the internet causing different types of social problems in their lives. Thus, BSK and CFS, Bangladesh will provide support sharing Books, Educational Magazines, eBook Library, Educational Films, and Multimedia Contents etc. following specific guidelines in order to create a national online learning and recreation platform for students.
It is worth mentioning that a2i Programme, with the technical help of UNDP and USAID, is going to inaugurate this konnect.bangla platform for students in February this year.
