AKA Dhaka welcomes back government school teachers for PD session

On 3 August 2023, the Professional Development Centre (PDC) of the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka welcomed a group of government primary school teachers operating under the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) project. The mid-term Teacher Professional Development (TPD) session was designed to equip early primary teachers with phonological awareness of the alphabetical module.

Two tools within the Learning Toolkit+ (LTK+) are being used in the KIX project – ABRACADABRA (A Balanced Reading Approach for Children Always Designed to Achieve Best Results for All) and READS (Repository of eBooks And Digital Stories). The former is an interactive instructional software to teach foundational literacy skills, while the latter provides an organised catalogue of free digital stories.

PDC of the Academy initiated and launched a TPD programme for six government school teachers of the Dhaka division, focusing on the alphabetic modules in May 2023. The mid-term session in August was dedicated to exploring the sub-skills of phonological awareness covered in ABRACADABRA and READS. The session disseminated knowledge and encouraged the participants to reflect upon the practical implementation of the acquired strategies in their classrooms. The modules offered a comprehensive blend of explanatory content, skill-building exercises and interactive elements, ensuring that teachers grasp and actively engage with the concepts.

“After participating in the session, I feel more confident about utilising the software in my classes,” said Assistant Teacher Ismat Jahan Sumi of Kurmitola Government Primary School, Dhaka.  “The innovative tools in ABRACADABRA and READS have opened new avenues to engage young learners effectively.”

Reflecting on the session, Md Musle Uddin Bhuiya, the head of PDC and outreach at the Academy, highlighted the keenness of the participants to enhance their teaching experience through learning.

"Witnessing the enthusiasm of these teachers to embrace innovative teaching methods is truly inspiring,” Musle said. “This TPD session is a testament to our collective effort towards achieving educational excellence for all.”