Education for Blind Children of Bangladesh

Dear Sponsor,

All schools, colleges and other educational institutions of Bangladesh have been opened for regular classes since 14^th September, 2021.  Accordingly, now all students of BERDO Blind School have started attending their classes regularly.  The overall COVID-19 situation in Bangladesh is now under control. The total death tool since its outbreak in Bangladesh is 27573.  In the meantime, all staff of BERDO has taken COVID-19 shots. All students of BERDO blind school is safe and in good health. The rate of COVID-19 patient detection/ diagnosis was below 5% on yesterday.  As a part of regular briefing on yesterday, the spokesperson of Health Ministry Mr. Nazmul Islam reveals that worldwide Corona situation has seen improved and Bangladesh situation is more satisfying.   

Dear Friends,

The world is going through a devastating pandemic called Covid-19.Bangladesh is not beyond them. BERDO School is trying its best to cope with this situation. Despite of current situation It is maintaining its students schedule effectively. Though residential students can not go outside and the school curriculum is closed but BERDO is trying to make them engaged with creative activities. They are also getting facilities for extra curriculum activities. As outside activities are not allowed they are using their time for little indoor exercises. Students are doing their academic assignments and online classes with the guidance of BERDO teachers. They are getting advices and instructions about health and sanitation from teachers to fight harmful diseases and also provided with sufficient masks and sanitizer and have to wash their hands very often.  They are getting proper food, pure drinking water and nutrition to develop strong immunity. They are allowed to read good quality books written in braille and attend morality lessons held by teachers. Teachers are teaching them discipline and social  value to work as a group. For recreational purpose they watch Television. They also get music lessons from music teacher. They are highly encouraged to follow ideal health care instructions such as timely feeding and getting proper rest.  BERDO is trying its best to make the best use of this current situation. Here the students are safe and sound from outdoor complexity.

On 17^th March 2021, National Children Day was celebrated with due solemnity by BERDO. The event was held at BERDO auditorium in Dhaka. The event was followed by a discussion meeting along with a cultural function. Different speakers highlighted the importance of this day and asked children/ students to be more vigil in protecting their rights. In the cultural programme, students of BERRDO Blind School exhibited impressive performance by reciting poems, patriotic song, rendering mystic Gazals (devotional songs), and patriotic songs. In the Evening of 17^th March, 2021, Blind school students of BERDO also participated in another cultural program at 2^nd floor of Raznighanda Market and made the huge audience spell bound through performing different kinds of songs and reciting poems.

At night they again participated in another cultural program at Mukul Fouz field and they performed there mesmerizing the whole audience.  They were awarded with different prizes for their outstanding performance.  All student of BERDO Blind School celebrated this special day with much fan fare and enthusiasm.

This quarterly report of October to December 2020, all students of BERDO Residential Blind School has been  promoted to higher classes by a new method  ‘ evaluation through assignment’ introduced by Government of Bangladesh due to longtime closure of educational institutions resulting from COVID-19 outbreak. The promotion of student to higher classes was carried out by performance evaluation. This evaluation was performed by five assignments.  The visually impaired student (Blind) of this school is pleased by having such promotion and also by receiving books free of cost.   

Students of this blind school have started to study with high spirit by getting new books. During this winter, students of Blind school in excellent condition, secured and protected as well.  They are duly following WHO prescribed rules for COVID-19 to keep them safe.  Generally they do not go out except emergencies.  

The BERDO Blind School has started functioning after long pause resulted from affect of COVID -19.  Students are now attending classes following health and safety rules. As part of restriction, no students are going outside residential school. They cannot attend any program outside due to COVID -19 infections. This year, ‘World White Cane Safety Day, has been observed though on- line. Every year, this program is observed with different fun-fare and extravaganza activities and in large scale like with big rally and discussion meeting.  Usually, in each year, Social Welfare Minister attends the function as ‘Chief Guest’.

BERDO observed this Day (White Cane Safety Day) on 17^th October, 2020 by its own initiatives. The theme of this year’s White Cane Safety Day was “Progress of White Cane, progress of Visually Impaired Person”.  On this occasion, ex -additional secretary of Government of the People Republic of Bangladesh Ms. Farida Nasrin was present as Chief Guest.   The program continued whole day with initially training on use of White Cane and it was followed by a discussion meeting. The training focuses on how to walk with White Cane and it was conducted by hired experts. White Canes were distributed among visual impaired students after the completion of discussion meeting.  

BERDO organized a program on observance of “World Mental Heath Day”. It was organized at meeting room of BERDOs main building. The theme of this years’ Mental Health Day, was ‘Mental Health for All’.  To mark the day, a discussion meeting was held and students gained better understanding on different aspects of mental health.