Workshop in Khulna focuses on stem and ict education for coastal girls

An advocacy workshop titled "Integrated initiatives to create opportunities for girls in STEM education in coastal areas" was held in Khulna to promote greater inclusion of adolescent girls from coastal regions in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and ICT education.

The workshop was organised by the Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) and the Bangladesh Freedom Foundation (BFF) under the project "STEM and ICT Skills for the Girls of Coastal Area". The main objective of the initiative was to enhance participation of adolescent girls from coastal regions in STEM and ICT education and to build coordinated efforts to support their empowerment.

Teachers, parents and students from four secondary schools in Khulna took part in the workshop. Representatives of NGOs working on girls' empowerment in coastal areas, local influential figures and policymakers were also present. A total of 75 participants attended the programme.

Presenting the keynote paper, project coordinator Rezaul Islam highlighted the activities and achievements of the project in three coastal upazilas. He said sustaining the positive changes seen among girls in ICT learning would require active engagement from educational institutions, families, local government bodies, NGOs and the private sector.

During group discussions and panel sessions, teachers, guardians, local government representatives and NGO leaders shared their views on existing challenges and possible solutions to increasing girls' participation in STEM education. Sanjib Sarkar, headteacher of Naihaty Secondary School, said that despite strong interest among girls, the lack of technological equipment, trained teachers and sustained support remained major barriers. A parent noted that while families wanted their daughters to advance in technology education, the lack of opportunities and guidance often created uncertainty. Nishat Tasnim Jui, a class nine student, said she wanted to share the hands-on skills she had gained through the project with younger students but was unsure how to pursue deeper learning after completing secondary education.

In an open discussion session, Upazila Secondary Education Officer SA Anwar-ul Quddus, Upazila Social Services Officer Md Rakibul Islam Torofdar, Upazila Women Affairs Officer Farhana Yasmin, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology Professor Dr Helal An-Nahian, and Munir Hasan, president of BdOSN and a member of the Malala Fund Education Champion Network, shared their perspectives.

SA Anwar-ul Quddus said that although girls often performed better in examinations, they lagged behind in professional careers. He emphasised that empowering girls required not only financial resources but also sustained investment of time, effort and knowledge. Md Rakibul Islam Torofdar said he was both surprised and encouraged to learn that girls from the area were participating in national-level science and technology competitions, adding that collective efforts were essential to scale up such initiatives.

In his closing remarks, the executive director of BFF said collective commitment was crucial to equipping coastal girls with technology skills and preparing them for the job market. Professor Dr Helal An-Nahian stressed that skill-based development had become indispensable, noting that the true success of the project would be achieved when girls from remote areas gained opportunities to study at institutions such as Kuet. Munir Hasan said STEM education not only built technical skills but also strengthened problem-solving abilities, confidence and leadership, adding that no girl should fall behind because of where she comes from.

The organisers said the workshop underscored the need to build strong linkages among policymakers and stakeholders to ensure girls' inclusion in STEM and ICT education in coastal areas. They also emphasised the importance of collective responsibility in implementing the recommendations that emerged from the workshop.

Since 2023, BdOSN, in collaboration with BFF and with support from the Malala Fund, has been implementing the "STEM and ICT Skills for the Girls of Coastal Area" project to foster interest and enhance skills in science and information technology among secondary school girls in coastal regions. The workshop was organised as part of this ongoing initiative.