A new initiative to teach history

Umme Kulsum, a third-grader at East Raghabpur Government Primary School in Pabna, loves going to school. 

She has many friends and loves to play with them during breaks and after school hours. 

But she was always disappointed with her school's dilapidated condition. "The classrooms were dirty," she told this correspondent.

The dirty classroom is now in the past. The government recently renovated hundreds of primary schools in Pabna, including Umme Kulsum's school.  

The premises have been painted red and green – the colours of the Bangladesh National Flag. 

Umme Kulsum took this correspondent around the school and was beaming with pride as she spoke. 

"Our school looks beautiful after it was decorated in green and red," she said, and added that these vibrant colours motivate her to come to school every day. 

This correspondent saw Bangladesh flags hanging at different spots inside the school. 

"This decoration helps children learn about the national flag and the motherland," teachers said. 

Major renovations have been made to the classrooms, interior, exterior, entrances and walls of the school. 

Pictures of the national fruit, flower, animal, bird and Meena cartoons were hanging on the walls along with the Bengali and the English alphabets – creating a vibrant environment in the otherwise bland and dilapidated government primary school.

Many schools in Pabna Sadar have taken this exceptional initiative to motivate students in patriotism, and to make them culturally-rich citizens. 

Sayeeda Shabnam, assistant education officer at Pabna Sadar upazila, said, "The initiative has been taken to motivate children to learn with interest."

The school is not only colourful, but it also has a Liberation War corner on the premises. 

The school also arranges competitive events regularly to help the children develop intellectually. 

"The students are happy to see the colourful schools and attendances has increased," said Shakirun Nahar, an assistant teacher at East Raghabpur Government Primary School. 

"Libraries and student-run 'honesty' shops have been set up on the school premises," she added. 

Pranto Islam, a fifth-grader at the same school, said that they have learnt about the national flag and the history of the Liberation War at school. 

The decorations have made the children more curious about the history of the country, teachers said. 

Talking to The Business Standard, Mirza Azad, former vice president of Pabna Press Club, applauded the initiative and said it motivates children to learn about our country and its history.