Teknaf, Bangladesh: An annual prize giving ceremony for primary level education for the 2011 academic year was held on December 22 at Nayapara Refugee Camp, with students, parents, and officials attending, said a refugee schoolteacher from the camp.
“The ceremony was organized by Research, Training, and Management (RTM) International, supported by UNICEF and UNHCR to encourage the students and their parents to uplift the education of their sons and daughters.”
The chief guest was Kumaruz Zaman, the Camp-in-Charge (CIC). In addition, the program director, project coordinator, and other officials of Research Training Management (RTM) participated in the ceremony. Mr. Wahid, the field assistant of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was also present in the ceremony. All guests delivered speeches during the ceremony regarding the importance of education, said another refugee teacher.
“Camp Management Committee Chairman Mohamed Islam, schoolteacher Abul Shama, and student Ms Ruzina also gave speeches at the prize giving ceremony.”
The student Ms Ruzina requested the Bangladeshi government to give refugee students facilities for further education in the camp. At present, there is abnormal education up to class IV level, but after that no further education is offered. Students want to study more but they have no opportunities, said a refugee elder who participated in the ceremony.
The Camp-in-Charge and the other officials distributed awards to the winners of first, second, and third in every class. There are ten schools with over 4,000 students and more than 100 schoolteachers in the camp. All teachers were also given an umbrella per each as a reward. The concerned authorities also chose the three best students from each school, said a schoolteacher named Habib.
The prize giving ceremony started at 10 am and finished at about 12:30 pm.
