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Researcher : Sanjeeb Drong
The National Curriculum and Text Book Board have portrayed
the diversity of lives and cultures of the Adivasis
(indigenous people) in a very negative manner. The indigenous
people of Bangladesh are being exposed in very degrading
ways before the children of the primary schools. And
this is creating a wrong conception about the indigenous
people in the minds of the mainstream children on one
hand and on the other hand generating a feeling of deprivation
and isolation in the minds of the children of the indigenous
communities. Lives and cultures of the indigenous people
are being portrayed in such a strange way before the
children so that one can easily assume that they (indigenous
people) are the animals (?) of the jungle. The overall
objective of the project is to generate respect among
the mainstream population about the history and culture
of the indigenous communities through projecting their
real lives, culture and history. Specific objectives
of the project are to (i) identify the negative areas
about the indigenous people in the National Curriculum
and focus on the possibility of presenting alternatives;
(ii) identify the criteria of selecting the writers
for the National Curriculum including those dealing
with component of indigenous people; (iii) analyse the
impact of the negative projection of the Adivasis on
the children of mainstream population; and (iv) propose
and develop an alternative curriculum in the educational
institutions about the indigenous people. The proposed
study aimed at minimising these attitudes of the concerned
people. Methodology of the study includes: (i) discussion
and exchange of opinions with the conscious members
and dignitaries of the society; (ii) discussion with
the representatives of the indigenous communities; (iii)
discussions with the people who are involved with the
preparation of school books and curriculum as well as
other members of the civil society; (iv) visit to schools
and discussions with the students; and (v) organising
workshops and seminars. The proposed study aimed at
minimising these attitudes of the concerned people.
Methodology of the study includes: (i) discussion and
exchange of opinions with the conscious members and
dignitaries of the society; (ii) discussion with the
representatives of the indigenous communities; (iii)
discussions with the people who are involved with the
preparation of school books and curriculum as well as
other members of the civil society, (iv) visit to schools
and discussions with the students; and (v) organising
workshops and seminars.
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