VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is to lay the foundation for a brighter future for the poor of Gopalgonj, Bangladesh, through free, broad-based, multidisciplinary education from early in life.

AIMS & OBJECTIVES

* To help our students achieve their full potential despite poverty.

* To keep our students physically healthy and positive with hope for the future.

* To promote friendship and understanding with students in other countries.

* To promote the education of girls.

* To expand the school to Grade 12 in order to prepare our students for college and the working world.

Curriculum

[ Admission Criteria ]

Unique features of Maleka Khatoon School are:

• Student-Teacher ratio is less than 27-1, compared to 80-1 in government-run public schools. Staff is paid higher than the norm in the public system.

• Emphasis is placed on educating girls and there is a strong focus on Bangladeshi culture and tradition of tolerance.

• Currently, there are 2 Nurseries for students aged 4 years, and 1 Kindergarten. Each of these classes has one dedicated teacher who teaches Bengali, English, Counting, and General Knowledge.

• There is one class for each of Grades 1 to 5 for subjects: Bengali, English, Mathematics, Social Sciences, Science, Geography, and World Religions. Teachers are assigned by subject in these grades.

• Nursery and Kindergarten classes run from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; other grades run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

• All students participate in physical exercise for 15 minutes at the beginning of each school day.

• There are 2 teachers dedicated to, and most students participate in, optional after-school Music, Dance, and Art programs.

• Each class has 2 student monitors (1 male, 1 female) rotated every 3 months to oversee discipline, behaviour, and the needs of classmates.

• There are 2 computers (no internet due to cost) available to each class, once a week.

• Students are encouraged to participate in sports and the school has an annual sports competition. Students also participate in an annual 3-day national sports competition.

• The class teacher checks the hygiene and cleanliness of each student once a week.

• A certified physician does a physical examination of each student every 3 months and provides a medical report card for each student.

• Every month, each class recognizes its best student based on academic performance, discipline, behaviour, respect for authority, and obedience to rules and regulations. A Best Student of the School is selected each year, based on the above criteria, and is rewarded with educational gifts and lunch with his/her parents and the Principal.

• There is also a Best Teacher of the Year award based on competency, teaching ability, multidisciplinary interests, and a healthy relationship with management. The award includes a salary bonus.

• Each month, educational experts from other schools and institutions provide advice, share their experiences, and offer suggestions to teachers on how to improve educational performance.

• The school follows the curriculum determined by the Bangladesh National Board of Education.

ADMISSION CRITERIA

It is important to note that there are admission criteria for this school. Two-thirds of the students pay a minimal fee, based on their household income, which is a slight contribution to the expense of running the school. So it is imperative that only children whose parents are committed to be involved with their children's education are considered for admission to the Maleka Khatoon School.

In this way, the incredible investment of time and money that everyone in Bangladesh and in Canada is making to this project is not in vain. There is a great spirit at work here among students, teachers, parents, staff, and all who are involved in the Maleka experience.

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