ProjectAppropriate education

Appropriate education provides thematic education for children with learning difficulties. The program  is based on the capabilities of the pupils and takes into account their specific disabilities. In this way Niketan offers students the opportunity to develop optimally.

Education is aimed at the emotional and intellectual development, developing creativity and social, cultural and physical skills development. The classes are practical and tailored to individual needs. Niketan makes use of various existing theories and methodologies. The thematic curriculum and relevant textbooks are developed with practical and educational support from consultants. We find it important that the lesson objectives fit in the environment of the children and the society in which they grow up.

Niketan runs three special schools which provide appropriate education in the thana’s Ghior, Baniajuri and Badda. During the school year parents are supported and trained, so that also at home, the child can bring the lessons learned into practice.

In 2019, 73 children were taught in the themes ‘flowers’ ‘Bangladesh’ and ‘colourful counting’. After each theme the children make a small test, with which we follow the development of the child as well as the teaching skills of the teacher. To stimulate a positive self-image, the children receive a ‘Well done’ certificate after each final test.

Results:

The children show better social skills, become more attentive and communicative, and show less difficult and deviant behavior. They are involved in the lessons, like to attend school and are more confident. The tests show that the children have learned to recognize colors and shapes, with the help of sign language and visual word images they gained a larger vocabulary, show progress in mathematical skills and problem-solving thinking.

Thanks to the behavioral change of the children and the unique collaboration with regular primary schools, many children go part-time to the regular primary school and part-time to our special school.

When parents see progress in their child and Niketan can give them hope for the future we help them positively change the interaction with their child and stimulate desirable behavior at home. Various training programmes for positive parenting have been organized.

In December 2019, the Ministry of Social Affairs in Bangladesh announced that the Disability Protection Act-2013 on care and education for complex handicapped children, adopted in 2013, is going to be implemented. The government wants to financially support one special school in every Upazilla. DRRA has registered the Niketan school in Baniajuri for financial support.