“I motivate my teachers so that they remember and carry on EIA’s practices, they learnt from training.” - Tapan Kumar Sarkar, Khona K B High School, Head Teacher, DacopeUpazila, Khulna
Head teachers are the highest administrative authority in a school. In the last eight years, EIA has had the opportunity to interact and support many experienced head teachers, who have helped spread EIA’s approaches in every aspect. They have workedto bring changes in administrative and in pedagogical areas in the school. They select English teachers for training and ensure their attendance in different meetings. They have adjusted class routines and class locations for English teachers. They initiate peer learning environment and follow-ups within the school, which aid professional development for teachers. They inspire teachers to observe each other’s classes providing constructive feedback and encourage other teachers to practise the techniques in other subjects.
“As a Head teacher I mainly provide encouragement, arrange Teacher Development Meetings, arrange materials and ensure the use of materials in the classroom.” - Md. Nazmul Haque, Head Teacher, KhonaKhola Model Primary School, Keraniganj, Dhaka
Some head teachers use EIA rhymes with speakers in the assembly, which makesthe assembly enjoyable because students like therhymes. Head teachers are taking several initiatives for practising English like: greeting students, making provision for storytelling, rhymes and singing songs in cultural events, encouragingteachersand students to form English club in school, publishing school magazine in English etc. In these ways, these teachers promote English as a language, not just as a subject. Some of them are sharing EIA’s best practices with parents and other members of SMC (School Management Committee) and PTA (Parents’ Teacher Association) meetings. Whereas, some are helping nearby non-EIA schools by copying EIA digital materials for promoting English in school and in the community.
“We often play EIA songs in our morning assembly and all students together enjoy those with action. This is a common practice not only for us, but also most of the schools in AnowaraUpazila.” - Sujoy Paul, Head Teacher, PurboBairag Govt. Primary School, AnowaraUpazila, Chittagong
