IHF & CFYD Organized Roundtable Discussion
Ensuring Sustainable Education through Digital Literacy for Marginalized Students for a Smart Bangladesh
17th February 2024, Dhaka: In a landmark initiative, the Center for Youth Development (CFYD), a youth-focused platform under It's Humanity Foundation, in association with BRAC University, hosted a high-level roundtable discussion on "Ensuring Sustainable Education through Digital Literacy for Marginalized Students for a Smart Bangladesh."
This discussion aimed to tackle the pressing issue of the digital divide in marginalized communities, with a specific focus on students and those with learning disabilities. The primary goal of the roundtable was to overcome the digital divide by making education more sustainable and inclusive through digital literacy.
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A distinguished panel of speakers participated, including:
- Professor Rubina Khan, PhD, from the Department of English at Dhaka University
- Dr. David Dowland, Registrar of BRAC University
- Professor Shaila Sultana, PhD, Director of BIL at BRAC University
- A F M Yusuf Haider, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at BRAC University
- S.M. Zakaria Rahman, Chief of Party at USAID's Shobai Miley Shikhi initiative
- Zareen Mahmud Hosein, Founder & Managing Director of CholPori
- Ms. Sabrina Shaheed, Principal of Sir John Wilson School
- Abul Fazal Mohd. Mayeen, Director of System and Operation at Plan International Bangladesh
- Parveen S. Huda, Adjunct Faculty at BRAC Business School
- Ms. Anjuman Parvin, CEO of Heaven Education Services, Child Development Specialist, and Special Education Consultant
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Tabassum Amina, Assistant Professor and Lead of the Mental Health Team at BRAC Institute of Educational Development, BRAC University. The entire conversation was skillfully moderated by Md. Adnan Hossain, Founder and Executive Director of It's Humanity Foundation.
The hour-long discussion covered a range of topics, including:
- Changing perceptions of digital literacy
- Integrating traditional and digital literacy
- Essential digital skills for marginalized students
- Linking digital literacy to employability
- Collaboration strategies for educators
- Inclusivity for students with learning disabilities
- Safe internet usage lessons
- Policies to ensure technology accessibility
Adnan Hossain, Founder and Executive Director of IHF, stated, “The digital divide disproportionately affects marginalized communities, low-income individuals, and rural areas, limiting access to essential services. We want to challenge the perception that digital literacy is a luxury for the privileged and highlight its crucial role in making education sustainable and improving job opportunities.”
Maisha Lubaba, CEO of Protibha—the Livelihood Program of IHF, added, “Based on the insights gained from today’s discussion, we, along with the help of our esteemed speakers, will formulate and implement strategies in all our 13 school campuses in 6 districts across Bangladesh. Over a period of six months, we will assess the practicality and effectiveness of the strategies in addressing the digital divide.”
The discussion acknowledged the need for an intersectional approach to address systemic inequities, including unconscious bias, gender-based discrimination, and barriers for persons with disabilities.