The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Khairul Anam

Education is one of the most significant elements of socialization process. It can be fundamentally divided into two types: Formal education and informal education. But the ultimate goal of all kinds of education is to develop the latent talent as well as inner qualities of a person so that he can make his life meaningful and take part in the development process of his beloved motherland and contribute something for the welfare of mankind.

In real sense education is a life- long process. It is not confined to formal educational institutions only. Rather man can develop his intellectual maturity, knowledge and wisdom from a lot of informal sources. In spite of this, for fulfilling his unquenchable thirst for knowledge in a balanced way and ensuring for him the required facilities systematically, the necessity of formal or institutional education can't be ignored at all. In our country, formal educational activities are being implemented in four stages. Secondary level education is an integral part of our education system. At secondary stage, learners have to study in the school for five years. For widening mental horizon, enriching mental faculty and developing hidden thought of the learners, secondary education is very essential.

The wave of information technology, globalization and modernization process has already changed the mode and trend of the developed countries. For this reason, the teaching methodologies and strategies of these countries are gradually changing in different ways. To keep pace with the changing world situation, we have to improve our education system and provide suitable and time-befitting training opportunities for the teachers. With a view to ensuring quality education at secondary level, the Teaching Quality Improvement in Secondary Education Project (TQI-SEP), under the Ministry of Education, is implementing a sophisticated, comprehensive and effective training programme, entitled 'Continuous Professional Development (CPD)' training for the secondary teachers on various subjects. Recently the TQI-SEP authority has taken an epoch-making initiative to train up the English teachers. To materialize the training programme, previously the trainers were trained skillfully at IER, Dhaka University and NAEM, Dhaka under the overall supervision of the TQI-SEP authority. After the successful completion of a 21-day CPD training course on English, at present the training of the third batch is going on at different Govt. T.T. Colleges efficaciously.

In fact CPD training on English is an in-service dynamic and comprehensive training course. This training is very indispensable for the secondary English teachers for the following reasons: Teaching is indeed an art and even a refined technology. Teaching methodology is deeply influenced by the development of science and technology . So the art and techniques of teaching should be rectified for the overall development of the education system. In this regard, the CPD training course is obviously a blessing for the English teachers. This programme provides the teachers with proper motivation and stimulation for making their classrooms lively, effective and meaningful. Different well-planned and nicely-designed activities of the training sessions enrich and enlighten their mental and psychological factors and make them confident and career-oriented . This training encourages them to establish effective professional relationship and cordiality with the colleagues. It promotes their positive ideas, views, attitudes, belief so that they can develop their professional skill.

To make the training programme a success, the following strategies, approaches, and teachniques are being applied: (i) Active and spontaneous participation in different activities through participatory method (ii) Applying learner-centred teaching approach (iii) To acquaint the trainees with the English language learning opportunities in the English text books. (iv) To evaluate the capacity, quality and realization power of the trainees a pre-test and a post-test are arranged for them on the first day and last day of the training programme respectively (v) The course contents and activities are designed to enrich four basic language skills. But special emphasis is given on speaking skill (vi) To ensure equal learning opportunities, the trainees are given a clear and practical idea of inclusive education (vii) To evaluate overall performance and to observe the dimension of achievement of the trainees, microteaching methodology is arranged in different sessions. (viii) Motivating and inspiring them tremendously to prepare, collect and use teaching aids and materials. (ix) Arranging pair work and group work in a large and crowded class is very tough and difficult. For overcoming this problem, trainees are shown different alternative and proper ways. (x) To invigorate them creating an English speaking zone in their respective institutions. (xi) For widening their outlook, views and attitudes regarding teaching process, the trainess are nicely motivated in every session. (xii) some recreational and co-curricular activities like study tour, recitation, songs etc are arranged in order that they can take such endeavours in their respective working places (xiii) Despite making many mistakes, trainess are strongly encouraged to speak English during the training sessions so that they can apply the same techniques in their real classroom situation. (xiv) Developing some deep-rooted qualities liked punctuality, mutual respect, modesty, politeness and so on (xv) Showing them the ways and techniques of effective monitoring, observation etc..

Actually CPD training course aims at bringing desirable behavioural change and acquainting the trainees with effective teaching methodology and pedagogy for their proper professional development. The expectations of this training programme to the trained teachers are many. Some remarkable aspects can be mentioned here. After returning to their working places, the trained teachers will establish congenial relationship with their colleagues. They will illustrate the modern and latest approaches of teaching to them. They will have to take initiatives to make cluster groups involving the English teachers of different schools . All the members of the group will share their ideas, views and experiences and thus they will be able to overcome various difficulties . The trained teachers have to practice 'reflection' or self-evaluation. For this purpose, they should keep a reflective diary. Just after going back to the schools, they should contact the Head teachers and explain different key points and strategies of the training to them. To overcome the shortcomings and create a true English atmosphere in the classroom, they will have to motivate the Head teachers to provide necessary assistance and cooperation. It is also one of the moral obligations of the trained teachers to invigorate their colleagues to establish an 'English Corner,' to prepare and use teaching aids and resources, to introduce mutual observation strategy, to make collaborative lesson plan, to arrange workshop, short training etc.

True to say, training is nothing but sharing ideas, equipping oneself with new values, norms, strategies, approaches and methodologies, ensuring behavioural change, making one perfect in his own profession. In this regard CPD training programme on English is certainly a benediction for the secondary English teachers. But this course has some limitations also . For reaching the desired destination, different technical and infrastructural facilities and necessary resources should be inc reased. In fine, it can be opined that in course of time the CPD training on English will bring a vital change and excellent outcome in teaching and leaning English at Secondary level.