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T
he DCSF Teachers’ International This visit has really helped to develop the self-
Professional Development (TIPD) esteem of our Bangladeshi origin pupils. Formerly
programme provides opportunities for reserved pupils were very proud that their teacher
teachers to experience alternative practice was going to visit Sylhet and talked with increased
in international education by participating in short- confidence about the proposed visit and their
term study visits to other countries. background.
Since the programme was launched in 2000, On our return, schools held assemblies focussing
around 20,000 teachers have benefited through on our trip, which were very popular with the
visiting schools in more than 70 countries. local community. All our pupils are now learning
The programme provides opportunities for to value diversity and appreciate similarities and
teachers in England to develop their teaching differences in each other’s cultures.
skills, to create international links between schools The teachers involved will now be able to
and facilitate information sharing on a global and provide a Bangladeshi context for modules of
local level. work such as problem-solving, art, dance, music,
The visits help to spread the word about different the production of tea, literacy and ICT, while
teaching methods throughout the participating schools 6th formers at the upper school will work as
and their local communities and ultimately, contribute mentors for younger children to raise aspirations of
to the learning and achievement of pupils through underachieving Bangladeshi boys and to encourage
increasing their awareness of global citizenship. girls into higher education.
Although an ethnically diverse town, the
Case study
different communities in Loughborough do not
Helen Trilling, international links co-ordinator always interact. Children and the local community
at Leicestershire County Council, shares her around one primary school with no children of
experiences of the TIPD programme. Bangladeshi origin will now have contact with
“In October 2008 a group of teachers from One girls’ school in each district receives olds, the classes were large, often with five children another culture in their midst. The school has also
Loughborough primary and secondary schools extra government funding as part of a policy to to a desk, but the level of work in mathematics far introduced Kabbadi – a popular team sport in south
visited Bangladesh for one week to learn about support girls’ education. During our visit to Ali exceeded the level of children the same age in the Asia – as part of their PE programme.
Bangladeshi culture and education in order to Amzad Government Girls’ High School we were UK. All six of the schools involved have now been
appreciate the cultural heritage of our pupils and particularly struck by the attitude of the girls to We felt very privileged to witness the positive accepted on the British Council’s Connecting
support cohesion in our communities. their future. attitude to education, the ability to achieve so much Classrooms scheme, working in clusters with
We visited 10 schools in total and the highlight In answer to a question about what they wanted with so little, and the faith and pride young people groups of schools in Bangladesh on cross-
of the visit for many of us was the visit to the to be, one girl said: “My country is very poor as have in the future of their country. curricular themes and teacher professional
FBDIV Mukamergul Primary School in Piererbazar you can see, and many children my age die young. Despite a 50 per cent drop out rate from development.
run by a non-governmental organisation in an area I want to study hard to be a doctor to help my secondary schooling due to economic We would encourage any teacher to get involved
where very few children had the opportunity to country and my people.” circumstances, there are very high levels of in the TIPD programme. Approach your visit with
attend school. Many members of our group wished our young aspiration and motivation and, as education is so an open mind, be flexible and adaptable, and expect
When we arrived, the children were having people were as thoughtful. The walls were covered highly valued, issues of behaviour encountered in to learn much from spending time with colleagues
a science lesson standing outside and moving in with posters in English and we were particularly the UK are not a problem. and having time for reflection. A TIPD visit can
circles. It soon became apparent that they were taken with the slogan: “Educate the mother and you A lack of resources does not diminish enthusiasm be an outstanding experience on a personal,
representing the revolving planets. Experiential educate the nation.” or innovation, and some of the work we saw was professional and at times emotional level.”
learning and many innovative teaching methods At Shaestaganj Islami Academy, a Bengali truly inspirational. Our intention is to be able to For more information on the programme, visit
were the outstanding features of this school. medium co-educational school for six to 16-year- communicate this attitude to our pupils. www.globalgateway.org/tipd
british council.indd 6 21/4/09 12:16:09
DCSF TEACHERS’ INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (TIPD)
Raising standards through international CPD
‘
Our TIPD visit left us all feeling inspired and
uplifted. We have all learnt so many things
that we will be able to use in our practice
Teachers from Derbyshire who visited Uganda to look at Citizenship
’
To find out more and to apply, visit:
www.britishcouncil.org/learning-tipd-can-i-apply.htm
www.globalgateway.org/tipd
SecEd • April 23 2009 17
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