VSO releases an application to strengthen learning for Rohingya children in Bangladesh

Cox’s Bazar, 21 August 2019 – VSO Bangladesh and its partners announced the launch of “VSO School App” in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

VSO School App is an education app developed in partnership with Ustad Mobile, to strengthen learning of Rohingya children.

To support the delivery of home-based Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for Rohingya children, VSO has developed several teachings and learning resources.

The app was created by VSO in partnership with Ustad Mobile that is an education app and learning tool which aims to improve teaching and learning for Rohingya children in the refugee camp. VSO School App consists of some contents that support Rohingya children on thinking skills, social, emotional, physical and language development. The app is loaded with games, songs, poems and stories and other educational materials designed to help young refugee children understand the world around them. It is also equipped with children’s activities which allow teachers and learning facilitators to use as guidelines to deliver lessons, and to increase access, participation and learning.

VSO Bangladesh Country Director, Md Forkhan Uddin said: “VSO Bangladesh is happy to be a part of government’s commitment to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in delivery quality education services. VSO School App will not only strengthen teaching quality delivered by volunteers, but will also enable Rohingya children to learn different skills from this school app. We can potentially replicate this app for Pre-Primary Education of Bangladeshi children in Primary Schools.”

Speaking at the launch event, chief guest of the event Mr. Mohammad Abul Kalam, Relief and Repatriation Commissioner, Cox's Bazar explained the importance of education of Rohingya children. He said, “The home-based Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) is certainly an innovative approach that aims to fill the existing gaps in fulfilling the right to educate and learning for the children. I thank VSO for their effort and implementation of this education programme for Rohingya refugee children. At the moment, we want to evaluate the impact of the use of the VSO School App and a future course may be agreed upon based on the findings.” 

Over 100 participants and key stakeholders from education sector in Cox’s Bazar were present at progrm.