Education for Blind Children of Bangladesh

The BERDO Blind School has started functioning after long pause resulted from affect of COVID -19.  Students are now attending classes following health and safety rules. As part of restriction, no students are going outside residential school. They cannot attend any program outside due to COVID -19 infections. This year, ‘World White Cane Safety Day, has been observed though on- line. Every year, this program is observed with different fun-fare and extravaganza activities and in large scale like with big rally and discussion meeting.  Usually, in each year, Social Welfare Minister attends the function as ‘Chief Guest’.

BERDO observed this Day (White Cane Safety Day) on 17^th October, 2020 by its own initiatives. The theme of this year’s White Cane Safety Day was “Progress of White Cane, progress of Visually Impaired Person”.  On this occasion, ex -additional secretary of Government of the People Republic of Bangladesh Ms. Farida Nasrin was present as Chief Guest.   The program continued whole day with initially training on use of White Cane and it was followed by a discussion meeting. The training focuses on how to walk with White Cane and it was conducted by hired experts. White Canes were distributed among visual impaired students after the completion of discussion meeting.  

BERDO organized a program on observance of “World Mental Heath Day”. It was organized at meeting room of BERDOs main building. The theme of this years’ Mental Health Day, was ‘Mental Health for All’.  To mark the day, a discussion meeting was held and students gained better understanding on different aspects of mental health.    

Due to COVID-19 pandemic impact, students of BERDO Blind School are now on leave. But the activities of Blind School are going on. All teachers are taking classes through using on line – Messenger, VIBER, and phone. Students of Blind school are being prepared for on-line examination and guardians meetings are being organized along with preparing students for examination. Relief and Food support have been provided to poor and under privileged students who live close to BERDO Blind School at Mirpur area of Dhaka city.  Students of BERDO blind school have been provided AIRNETCH to keep them safe from COVID-19 infection. Students of Blind School have been provided necessary direction to protect them from COVID -19 infection like Using Mask, Hand sanitizers, ad wash hands using soap for 20 second and not to go out without emergencies. So far Students of Blind School are in good health and safe.

One student of blind school has passed Secondary School Certificate Examination with GPA 2.44 in 2020. Result of four higher Secondary School Certificate examinations was due to publish on 1th April, 2020, but due to COVID outbreak publication of result has been postponed. The result is yet to be published. In 2020, five Blind school students will participate in PSC examination and one in JSC examination. Now all are saying at their respective village homes and taking preparation for examination. All are in good health and safe.