Feature

Learning to Challenge

Star campus Desk

ON 28 January 2009, teachers and administrators from various public and private universities and schools in Bangladesh converged at a local hotel in Dhaka for a training program to become "Award Leaders" for the Duke of Edinburgh's (DEA) Award in Bangladesh.

The training was provided by Mr. Sajjad Haider Rizvi from Pakistan and Ms. Margarette Davidraj from India - both not only experts on the DEA award program but also highly conversant in the art of effective training. The training was arranged by the National Directorate of the DEA, led by the National Director Mr. Suman Saha.

The DEA was launched in 1956 in UK and later across the globe in a number of countries with an objective to challenge young people to become more active, conscientious and confident individuals, contributing to society - whose efforts are recognized by the highly prestigious award. The award has three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold which require respectively 6-, 12- and 18- months' continuous commitment and effort on part of the award aspirant. It is a non-competitive, non-financial award that promotes developing skills, engaging in physical recreation, performing socially-beneficial services and undertaking an adventurous journey by young people. In neighboring countries it has been offered for a long time, however, in Bangladesh, the award program was started in late 2008, with official launching expected in March 2009.

The training, hosted by Mr. Suman Saha, commenced with brief introductions by the trainers and the participants, who were faculty and administrative members of academic institutions as varied as American International School Dhaka, Bangladesh International Tutorial, European Standard School, Independent University of Bangladesh (IUB), Jahangirnagar University, Maple Leaf Intl. School, Mastermind, Oxford International School, The Red Brick School, The University of Asia Pacific, United International University (UIU) and University of Dhaka (DU). The variety of institutions underscored the significance of the award. The fact that the trainers were providing the training pro bono indicated their commitment to the spirit of the award.

As the trainers weaved through the history, philosophy, spirit and the various sections of the award, complementing each other in style and content, two purposes of the award permeated throughout the discussions, that of i) improvement, and, ii) achievement. Improvement of self and community at large and imbuing in the young minds a sense of achievement of lofty objectives are at the heart of the DEA award. The non-discriminatory policy of the award, which is targeted specifically to young men and women between the ages of 14 to 25, is in line with its policy of benefiting and 'challenging young people everywhere'.

The two-day training program highlighted the roles and importance of the award leaders as guides and appraisers of the award participants' performance and achievement. Engaging in a number of interactive sessions, the award leaders learned about the specific objectives of each section, the requirements for successful completion, the safety and training issues as well as how to properly assess the aspirant's performance.

The program affords flexibility of activity choice and assessment criteria while maintaining a very high standard. The onus, it was effectively conveyed at the training, is on the award leaders to not only properly guide the participant but also to fairly assess his/ her performance. It was a remarkable training program where the academics were kept engrossed in the topics by the expert and enjoyable presentations of the trainers. The sessions were punctuated by the DEA trustees' generous hospitality, making the day-long sessions non-cumbersome.

At the end of the two-day program, in the company of Mr. Osman Morad, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) Bangladesh and Chair, Board of Trustees, DEA and Mr. Shah Masud Imam, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs, SCB, and Honorary Secretary, DEA, the participants shared their feelings about the training, Mr. Shama-e Zaheer, Asst. Professor, IBA, DU summed up the program, while Prof. Shamima Chowdhury, Department of Physics, DU delivered her heartfelt thanks to the trustee board, the national director, the trainers and fellow participants. Finally, certificate of completion were presented to the trainees as the delightful program came to its end.

The training program heralds the dissemination and commencement of the DEA award as well as its philosophy. The true success of the program would manifest in the enrollment and successful earning of the award by young people in Bangladesh.