Meet the first Teacher Preparation Programme cohort of the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka

The Teacher Preparation Programme (TPP) is a unique endeavour of the Aga Khan Academies. The programme aims to identify and nurture talented teachers from the country the Academy is based in and train them to become International Baccalaureate (IB) certified teachers. For the first part of the programme, the first cohort of TPP participants from the Aga Khan Academy Dhaka are currently spending part of their programme at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad in India, where they are being mentored by skilled IB teachers and gaining hands-on knowledge inside and outside the classroom. After this, the TPP participants will return to the Academy in Dhaka and apply the knowledge they’ve learned from the Academy in Hyderabad. Let’s learn more about this first cohort and what they have to say about their journey so far.  

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Ramisa Bushra 

Ramisa achieved her Master of Education in science, mathematics and technology education from the Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka. Previously, she worked as an intern teacher at Azimpur Government Girls’ School and College in Dhaka.  

“Teaching has always piqued my interest,” Ramisa said. “I developed a tremendous fondness for teaching after seeing my favourite teachers serve as role models in my childhood and I started dreaming of becoming a teacher myself. The Teacher Preparation Programme has allowed me to take a step closer to my goal. In addition, the desire to contribute something useful to the community greatly influenced my decision to participate in this programme.”  

Nabila Islam 

Nabila obtained her Master of Education in educational leadership and school improvement, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in finance and marketing from BRAC University in Dhaka.    

“The Aga Khan Academies’ mission of creating homegrown leaders who will bring positive changes in society attracted me to apply for this position,” Nabila said. “Now, I expect to become a more creative and student-centred teacher who will create future leaders for Bangladesh. I will try to prepare my students for life and help them to become ethical leaders. My focus will be on learning rather than teaching, which will help me create lifelong learners who will bring positive changes to this world.”  

Mohammad Tanvir Amin Anto 

Tanvir completed his Bachelor of Arts in English from North South University in Dhaka. He majored in literature with open electives to concentrate on modern and contemporary fiction. Right after graduation, Tanvir joined as a substitute teacher at The Aga Khan School, Dhaka and taught English to the students.  

“As a fresh graduate, I sought all the experience I could get in teaching and learning,” Tanvir said. “The TPP provided me with the perfect opportunity for that. During my tenure at AKA Hyderabad, I look forward to meeting the talented and experienced teachers and their approaches to various contexts. I also look forward to engaging with the students by teaching and learning from them.”  

Rokaiya Ahmed 

Rokaiya acquired her Master of Education in nonformal and lifelong learning from IER, University of Dhaka. She worked as an assistant teacher at Smart Innovations School in Dhaka, and as a learning support facilitator at BRAC Institute of Educational Development.  

“I believe His Highness the Aga Khan is continuously trying to make the world a better place,” Rokaiya said. “I want my daily life to reflect the mission and vision His Highness has put forward for the Academies and substantially implement those attributes at the Academy in Dhaka. As a fresh graduate who is learning how to teach, I will try my best to learn and participate throughout the entire fellowship to give back to my community and my country.”  

Tabassum Binte Jamal 

Tabassum obtained her Master of Education from the IER, University of Dhaka and MBA in human resource management from the American International University-Bangladesh. Before joining the TPP cohort, Tabassum worked as a faculty member at the International Hope School Bangladesh.  

“I wanted to be a part of the TPP because I dream of being an educator with an improved understanding of how students learn and how I can constructively facilitate them to become the effective, pluralistic and ethical leaders of tomorrow as per the mission of the Academies” Tabassum Binte Jamal said. 

Tasnim Janan 

Tasnim secured her Master of Education in educational psychology and guidance from IER, University of Dhaka. She briefly worked as a subject matter expert and instructor at Shikho Technologies Bangladesh Limited, and as a digital learning content developer at the Agami Education Foundation in Dhaka before joining the TPP cohort.  

“I look forward to the learning journey ahead and am very excited about the surprises it will bring,” Tasnim said. “I am particularly looking forward to the first-hand experience of crafting a well-thought, well-researched curriculum and the massive engineering behind it. I am waiting to see the reaction of the students while implementing the curriculum in the best possible way as well.”  

Initiatives like the TPP are just one of many future teacher development programmes that will take place as part of the Academy’s Professional Development Centre (PDC), which aims to strengthen the profession of teaching in the region by providing substantial professional learning opportunities and modelling highly effective educational practice. Currently, the PDC at AKA Dhaka is working with Concordia University and the Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance on the Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX) project, which aims to improve children’s literacy skills by using literacy software. Through this partnership, the Academy has translated and digitised 20 English books to Bangla, which is accessible to students across Bangladesh.