Tutoring the underprivileged for a better society
A tutorial centre named 'Shishu Pathshala' has become the beacon of hope for disadvantaged students in Jhenidah municipality.
Students who are unable to pay for private tutors have been getting free tutorials on all subjects since its inception about 17 years ago.
In 2004, Alamgir Hossain, a resident of Khajura village under the municipality, started the free coaching centre in a tin-roofed brick house on 15 decimals of land that he owns in the village. He joined Novel Polytechnic College in Jhenidah town as a mathematics lecturer that same year.
He always had an urge to do something for the disadvantaged as he also faced extreme financial hardship throughout his student years and completed his masters while working fulltime at a pharmaceutical company, Alamgir said when this correspondent visited Shishu Pathshala recently.
With that objective in mind, he returned home after a 20-year stint at the pharmaceutical company and took the job of a lecturer at the college in Jhenidah town. Soon afterwards, upon discussion with village elders, he constructed the building to offer free tutorials for needy students in the area.
On schooldays, free tutorials are offered in three separate batches -- from 7:00am till 8:30am and 4:30pm till 6:00pm. All the batches are also given lessons on Fridays between 7:00am and 5:30pm, except for a three-hour lunch break that starts at 1:00pm.
Alamgir's wife Selina Kabir and his daughter Meherunnesa, a student, also take turns in teaching at the Pathshala.
Aside from getting free lessons on textbook subjects and stationery, the students get training on computer operations and drawing. During study breaks they take part in singing, recital of poetry and playing various games such as carom, ludo, chess or football.
Oftentimes, patriotic songs are played on loudspeakers while students are taught moral values or ethical principles. They are also taught the biography of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and significance of various historic days of the nation, said Alamgir.
Some days they are taught the importance of trees, effective methods of gardening around the house and techniques to make flower pots or planters from items available in a house.
Tisha Khatun, a fourth grader, said she enjoys her time at the coaching centre where she also gets to learn how to use a computer or take part in various fun activities.
Another student, Mirazul Islam, in second grade, said his day labourer father cannot afford to hire a private tutor for him.
But now he can keep up with studies in his class, as the teachers at Shishu Pathshala help him prepare for all subjects in his class, he also said.
Many of the former Pathshala students, who are now successfully enrolled at different renowned universities across the country, also offer tutorials while they visit their village homes during long weekends or holidays.
Rasul Hossain, a student at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in Dhaka, said his former teacher Alamgir, with support from his wife and daughter, is working towards realising his dream of creating a better society and he had imbued in him the belief that anything is possible.
As a means to be a part of this noble effort, Rasul also offers lessons at the Pathshala whenever he comes home on long holidays, he added.
Pabna University of Science and Technology student Abdul Alim said one of his most favourite teachers, Alamgir, has unparalleled skills in teaching mathematics and he is a man of honour, nobility and modesty.
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