Alphona has lessons via computer - thanks to solar cells
Listening Alphona lives on an island in Bangladesh. From the mainland, it is difficult to get to the island where Alphona and her family live. As a result, many teachers choose to work in one of the cities on the mainland. That's why Alphona and her classmates have recorded lessons via computer.
Alphona is 13 years old and lives on Sidhaid Island in Bangladesh. She is in grade 8 and her favorite subjects are science and English. Sidhaid Island is difficult to get to and from. Up to grade five, there are teachers on the island who teach the students. Teachers who can teach the older children have chosen to work in the cities instead. As a result, Alphona and her classmates do not have a teacher who can teach in the classroom.
To enable Alphona and her classmates to stay in school beyond grade five, they are now taught via computer.
Alphona outside her school in Bangladesh.
Alphona outside her school in Bangladesh.
How is teaching done?
All teaching is done via computer. In the classroom, the computer is placed at the front so that all pupils can see and hear what the teacher is saying. Every day, Alphona and her classmates have six lessons, all using the computer.
Computers need electricity
In order for Alphona and her classmates to receive education, they need a computer. A computer needs electricity to work. Alphona's school has set up solar panels in the schoolyard so they can charge the computer's battery. This way they can have lessons. Without electricity, they have no school.
On the islands in the Yamuna River, students have lessons using computers.
On the islands in the Yamuna River, students have lessons using computers.
The teachers who teach
Alphona is happy with her teachers. She thinks they do a good job teaching via computer. At the school Alphona attends, her class will be the first to graduate.
In addition to the teachers teaching the pupils via the computer, there is also an adult support person present in the classroom during the lesson.
- With the recorded lessons, we get the best teachers from the capital Dhaka. If I need help, I get it from the support person who is always in the classroom. We can also go home to a support teacher before school starts in the morning to get extra help," says Alphona.
Alphona dreams of becoming a doctor
Alphona enjoys going to school. In the future she dreams of becoming a doctor. To become a doctor, Alphona knows that she needs to spend many years in school.
- It is important that we go to school, it gives us the chance for a good life. My school here on the island has allowed me and other young girls to dream of working as doctors or teachers in the future," she says.
This text was originally published on February 1, 2020.
Published: 04 May 2023
