Forum on Intl Education for Global Citizens held
UNB
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Foreign Ministry co-hosted a forum on International Education for Global Citizens at a hotel in the capital on Friday, reports UNB.
In keeping with Goal-17 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the aim of the Forum was to bring together a wide cross-section of stakeholders, including students and teachers, to discuss how Bangladesh can better prepare its students to become global citizens for the 21st century so that they can address new and emerging challenges both nationally and internationally.
AKDNs Resident Diplomatic Representative to Bangladesh Munir M Merali welcomed participants and shared their continued interest and commitment to the education sector in Bangladesh through additional investments, including the establishment of the Aga Khan Academy in Dhaka.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque underscored the importance of critical thinking, innovation and adaptation as key skills that the education systems needs to inculcate in students to prepare them both for the job market and to become good human beings. Primary and Mass Education Secretary Mohammad Asif-Uz-Zaman stated that there was no topic more relevant or timely for the provision of inclusive, equitable and lifelong learning for over 20 million primary students in the country.
However, he pointed to the challenges of working with such a large system.
Janet Jamieson, former Research Chair of Red River College, Canada, and Jonathan Marsh, Global Manager for Professional Development, Aga Khan Academies, made keynote presentations at the Forum.
Jamieson emphasised the importance of the early years in setting the foundations for all future learning and behaviour, including the knowledge, skills and values required for students to become global citizens.
Marsh spoke about ways in which public-private partnerships in education can be effectively leveraged to improve teaching and learning outcomes for all students.
