Teach For Bangladesh hosts national climate education forum
Teach For Bangladesh (TFB) convened over 80 stakeholders—including Fellows, alums, students, teachers, government officials, civil society leaders, and private sector partners—at the Climate Education Advocacy Forum 2025, held recently at the Ismaili Jamatkhana and Centre in Dhaka.
The forum spotlighted TFB's growing role in integrating climate education into classrooms across Bangladesh.
The event highlighted the organisation's Climate Education and Leadership (CEL) initiative, launched in 2023 in partnership with Teach For All, as a replicable model for cultivating environmentally aware learners and communities. Through storytelling, school team presentations, and hands-on examples, participants witnessed how TFB Fellows are enabling students to engage in rooftop gardening, waste segregation, and tree distribution.
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In his opening remarks, Rajasree Guha, Deputy Manager of Partnership Development at TFB, underscored the urgency: "Bangladesh's youth must become climate leaders in their communities. The future depends on how we educate and mobilise today."
A student-parent-teacher presentation led by a TFB Fellow showcased how grassroots engagement can drive sustainable behaviour. The panel discussion, "Classrooms as Climate Catalysts," featured frontline voices, including Fellows, alumni, youth climate activists, and development professionals. Tahiya Islam, a 2022 Fellow, shared how she began her climate education journey with small classroom activities: "I introduced plants and simple lessons on plastic pollution. Real change starts with small, emotional connections."
Youth climate activist Shohanur Rahman warned: "By 2050, one-third of Bangladesh could be underwater. Climate education must be about survival, not just awareness." Mohammad Mahmodul Hasan of Helvetas Bangladesh called for policy-level change and curriculum integration tailored to local contexts.
Speaking as Special Guest, Harun Ortac, CEO of United Aygaz, said, "TFB's work is not just about education; it's about the future of the country. If we stand together, we can act together."
The forum's Chief Guest, Professor Robiul Kabir Chowdhury, Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), reaffirmed the government's position: "Climate education must be embedded in every subject from Class 1 to 10. This is no longer optional—it's essential."
In her closing speech, Munia Islam Mozumder, CEO of Teach For Bangladesh, issued a collective call to action: "The climate crisis is a justice and education issue. Education cannot change the world directly, but it changes people, and people change the world."
The event concluded with a participatory discussion session, Collective Leadership for Climate Resilience, where attendees developed strategies to scale CEL efforts nationwide.
