e-science Project
In 2013,
e-Education & World Bank started a
new journey to address the problems
related to quality learning of basic
sciences (i.e. Physics, Chemistry,
Biology, and Mathematics) at the
secondary level. Currently there are
a lot of obstacles studying basic
sciences in rural areas of
Bangladesh due to the lack of
skilled teachers, laboratory
facilities, and properly-managed
practical classes. e-Education has
recorded lectures on basic sciences
in DVDs in order to provide better
science education and reduce the
educational gap between rural and
urban areas. Teachers were
handpicked from a pool of renowned
institutions to conduct lectures and
practical classes in well-equipped
laboratories. The ‘e-Science’
project was introduced in 45
secondary schools under 6 upazila
for class ‘IX’ and ‘X’ with the
support of the World Bank and
Secondary Education Quality Access
and Enhancement Project (SEQAEP)
under the Ministry of Education.
Research says e-Education project has significant impact on students’ performance:
Offline audio-visual lectures are importance tool to ensure quality education for the countryside students of Bangladesh. Experimental evidence from rural Bangladesh, a research study was conducted from 2012 to 2015 by Yasuyuki Sawada, professor of the University of Tokyo, (currently, Chief Economist of ADB) on DVD-based Distance-learning Program for University Entrance Exams. Research results revealed some significant findings that:
- Students of the treatment group (with Audio-Visual lectures) scored 36% higher in their academic examinations than the students of the control group (without Audio-Visual lectures) over a 6-month period
- 85% of the students preferred multimedia lessons (i.e. Audio-Visual lectures) for academic courses as opposed to the traditional method. The reasons behind the popularity of multimedia lessons (i.e. DVD-based lectures) are that it’s easy to use frequently, anytime and anywhere
These results reflect the great potential to scale this method of effective learning through the use of ICT (Information Communication Technology) in each level of primary and secondary education. e-learning innovation can contribute to reduce the educational gap between rural and urban areas. It has the capacity and capability to ensure quality education for all. Thus, we hope to spread quality education in each and every corner to accelerate integrated development of Bangladesh and create access for higher education for deserving students.