Brief Report

WORKSHOP ON
TRANSLATION AND ADAPTATION OF

MARVELOUS MANGROVES CURRICULUM

IN BANGLADESH

18-20 July 2013, Thu-Saturday

CSS Ava Center, Khulna, Bangladesh
REPORT PREPARATION

Rezaul Karim Zitu | Hasan Mehedi

Summary Information
Chief Facilitator: Martin A. Keeley, Global Education Director, MAP
Facilitator:

Hasan Mehedi, Chief Executive, CLEAN

Kushal Roy, Assiatant Professor, ES1 Discipline, Khulna University

Guest:

Dilip Kumar Datta Ph.D, Professor, ES Discipline, Khulna University

Sazzadur Rahim Pantha, Convener, Bonojibi Odhikar Suraksha Mancho (BOSM)

Participants
SL #

Name

Position

Institution

1.

Abu Sattar Mostafa Kamal

Headmaster

Nalian Forest Govt. Primary School

2.

Dilip Kumar Datta Ph.D

Professor

Environmental Science Discipline,

Khulna University

3.

Hasan Mehedi

Chief Executive

CLEAN

4.

Humayun Kabir

Headmaster

Borobari Secondary School

5.

Kushal Roy

Assistant Professor

Environmental Science Discipline,

Khulna University

6.

Lokendranath Barman

Teacher

Kalinagar Govt. Primary School

7.

Madhusudan Biswas

Teacher

Dacope Secondary Girls School

8.

Maksudur Rahman Milon

Executive Director

BEDS

9.

Martin A. Keeley

Global Education
Director

Mangrove Action Project (MAP)

10.

Mithun Chandra Mallick

Student

Institute of Fine Arts, Khulna

University

11.

Mohammad Alauddin

Teacher

Protyashito Adarsha School

12.

Nirupam Mondal

Teacher

Baraikhali Govt. Primary School

13.

Palash Roy

Teacher

Kamarkhola Govt. Primary School

14.

Razib Bachhar

Assistant Headmaster

Channir Chak LC Collegiate School

15.

Rezaul Karim Zitu

Interpreter and
Rapporteur

CLEAN

16.

Sanjay Mondal

Teacher

Kakrabunia Regd. Primary School

17.

Sazzadur Rahim Pantha

Convener

Bonojibi Odhikar Suraksha Mancho

18.

Shamim Arfeen

Executive Director

AOSED

19.

Sharif Nehal Rahman

Student

Environmental Science Discipline,

Khulna University

20.

Shariful Islam Salim

Programme Coordinator

CLEAN

ES: Environmental Science

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18 JULY 2013, THURSDAY

FIRST
D AY

Reception, Short Brief on the Initiative and Introduction

After attendance of all participants the registration process was completed within 9.15 AM.
Completing all formalities CLEAN's chief
executive Hasan Mehedi welcomed all
participants and greeted MAP2 global
education director Martin A. Keeley to visit
Bangladesh
and
take
initiative
of
development of a Marvelous Mangrove (MM)
curriculum in Bangladesh. He gave a brief
description on the Sundarbans, the largest
single tract mangrove forest in the world. He
also described the relationship between
Mangrove Action Project (MAP) and
CLEAN. BOSM3 convener Sazzadur Rahim Pantha and Khulna University's Environmental Science
Discipline assistant professor Kushal Roy addressed the participants in the inaugural session.

MAP global education director Martin A. Keeley said that, MAP has already developed Marvelous
Mangroves in 9 countries of the world. He
described that, the curriculum is a guideline
for the teachers on how they inform the
children about wetlands and mangrove
species through science education with
amusement and hands-on activities. It is a
pleasure of MAP to initiate MM curriculum in
the largest mangrove forest, which lies on
Bangladesh. It took 3 years in Brazil and 3 and half years in China. So, it's a long process and
hopefully we can develop a nice, easy and realistic curriculum which would be Marvelous indeed!
Environmental Science Discipline of Khulna University assistant professor Kushal Roy said that it
is not an easy task to develop a curriculum. Describing his bitter experiences during development
of a curriculum on Climate change, he said, if everybody work very closely, it would be an easier
task and the written document would be a nice one.
BOSM convener Sazzadur Rahim Pantha said that CLEAN has a long experience of working
on the Sundarbans mangrove forest and the forest people. The already have developed some
significant documents on Sundarbans in collaboration of Forest Peoples Programme,
Actionaid and Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). Sundarbans is not only an
important hotspot for ecology and tourism, but also a major source of income for more than 1
2
3

MAP: Mangrove Action Project

BOSM: Bonojibi Odhikar Suraksha Mancho [Forest Peoples Rights Protection Platform]
Page | 3

million people. So, traditional culture and customary practices are very important to incorporate
with the proposed curriculum, and
CLEAN has a proven experience on these
topics.

AOSED4 executive director Shamim Arfeen

and BEDS5 executive director Maksudur
Rahman addressed the participants in the
inaugural session, among others. All
participants introduced with each another
and expressed their expectation before
closing of first session.

History and Overview of Marvelous Mangroves: Martin A. Keeley

Mr. Martin gave a nice presentation on history and overview about Marvelous Mangroves.
Through the presentation all of the participants understood which activities done by the MAP.
After giving his presentation he described the development and application process of Marvelous
Mangroves Curriculum and a 'formula' for Bangladesh.
An open discussion was held after this presentation, and some participants raised their question
to Martin about mangrove and MAP. Martin gave the answer clearly on how their journey started
and which countries they were working already and which countries are ongoing.

Overview of CLEAN Programs: Hasan Mehedi

After tea break CLEAN chief executive Hasan Mehedi gave a presentation on Overview of
Mangrove related programs of CLEAN. After the establishment as an NGO, which activities
on mangroves have been done by CLEAN was showed by a powerpoint
presentation. Mr. Mehedi described advocacy
programmes, forest people's livelihood
programmes, research activities on the
Sundarbans, civil society organization (CSO)
networking and lot of activities to protect
Sundarbans, its biodiversity and dependent
peoples community. He presented a small
documentary film on Sundarbans and the
people's lives, who depend on Sundarbans
and live by the forest. From his documentary
everybody gather a newer concept on cultural practices and traditional knowledge of Forest
Peoples to ensure sustainable use of forest resources.

Brief on Marvelous Mangroves: Martin A. Keeley

After distribution of copies of 'Marvelous Mangroves in Belize' to the participants Mr. Martin
described Contents and Structure of Marvelous Mangroves and supplemental materials:
4
5

AOSED: An Organization for Socio-Economic Development

BEDS: Bangladesh Environmental Development Society
Page | 4

restoration guide, ecotourism, etc. The participating teachers, who live in the surrounding areas
of the Sundarbans, felt interest and came to know facts and figures on mangroves, which they
never heard. They looked into the Belize version which is full of authentic information and
illustrations. The participants raised some questions about translation and adaptation process of
the curriculum. Mr. Martin answered the questions with detail steps he followed in different
countries but he emphasized on contexts of Bangladesh and requested to consider all local
obstacles, information, culture and potentials.

Review of Marvelous Mangroves: Martin A. Keeley

Again Martin gave a presentation and made detailed review on Marvelous Mangroves to ensure
the material is relevant to Bangladesh. The participants were divided in 5 Working Groups took
one chapter for each group to do their group
work. Every group read and identified which
things are similar and which things are
different in Bangladesh. They used Belize
version is the skeleton for Bangladesh
version and considered country perspectives
to make good mangrove curriculum for
Bangladesh students.

SECOND

D AY

19 JULY 2013, FRIDAY

Review of Marvelous Mangroves: Group Work

As per the groups formed on 1st day, the participants sat with the group
members together and started checking the Belize version of Marvelous Mangroves Curriculum.
Poster papers and marker pens were provided to them to write up observation and opinions on
different parts of the curriculum. They worked whole the day on the curriculum, reviewed every
pages of the book, changed the illustration and description, and took note on the pages to
change. They selected which things are to adapt in Bangladesh perspective and which are not.
They identified some local materials to use in teaching the students about Sundarbans and
Bangladesh mangroves. They discussed
about Sundarbans as habitat, why and how
people destroy the Sundarbans, exploring
Sundarbans and making change to keep
Sundarbans as a sanctuary, reserve forest
and unique source of resources.
During the discussion Mr. Martin showed two
documentary films which described the way
of exploration and protection of mangroves.
The video documents were very useful for,
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but not limited to, children. In the first video, he presented a Television Show on wetland
conservation, which is very communicative and easy. And another drama-like show is enjoyable
for the children with huge authentic and necessary information. Before closing of 2nd day, Mr.
Martin showed the basic science of saline water through a hands-on activity using water, salt and
color. He also conducted an exercise to learn about feather of birds, so that the participants can
understand different species of birds of Sundarbans.
The groups of participants presented their
findings on the curriculum one after
another. The first group members were: (i)
Maksudur Rahman (ii) Humayun Kabir and
(iii) Mohammad Alauddin presented their
findings on 'All About Mangroves'. Second
group members, (i) Sharif Nehal Rahman, (ii)
Lokendranath Barman and (iii) Sanjay
Mondal presented their findings on
'Mangrove As Habitat'. Third group
comprised (i) Rezaul Karim Zitu, (ii) Nirupam Mondal and (iii) Madhusudan Biswas. They
presented their opinions on 'Human Impacts on Mangroves'. Fourth group members are (i)
Palash Roy (ii) Shariful Islam Salim and (iii) Kushal Roy who presented review on 'Exploring
Mangroves'; and the last group comprised (i) Razib Bachhar (ii) Abu Sattar Mostafa Kamal and
(iii) Hasan Mehedi. They presented their observation on 'Making Change' part of the curriculum.

20 July 2013, Saturday

THIRD

D AY

Before starting discussion on new topics, the participants started

reviewing the presentations. They wrote-down about the problem and
which would be solution. One expert was tagged with each group so that they can have a clear
picture on ecology and species. After
presentation of all groups, the participants
summarized which was done in last 2 days. In
his speech, Mr. Martin again assured the
participants that the Belize version is a
skeleton of the curriculum and Bangladesh
working group is to wear a local dress on it.
As the working group knows almost all about
the mangroves in Bangladesh, they are
obviously capable to do it.

Upgradation for Higher Education: Kushal Roy

Khulna University's Environmental Science Discipline assistant professor Kushal Roy presented a
paper in this session on how and what should be added or reviewed in the curriculum to initiate it
in senior secondary school level, expecially Class IX and X. He emphasized on some laboratory
Page | 6

work on Sundarbans Physical, chemical characteristics checking [mainly water and soil],
biological monitoring and basic science. He also suggested to provide more information and
more complexing tasks for the senior
secondary level students. He also mentioned
name of some books for class IX and X
student as reference book. Cultural diversity
is one of the major indication of the
Sundarbans, including indigenous Munda
communities and forest dependant groups;
considering this Mr. Kushal suggested to add traditional knowledge, cultural practices and
customary laws in the curriculum for higher secondary level. He emphasized on scientific names
of the Sundarbans species and their importance on the ecology, including usage by the people, to
sensitize the students on emergence of conservation.

National Curriculum Analysis: Open Discussion

In this session the participants said that there are some contains including stories, partly essays
and small paragraphs in some write-ups. The texts and illustrations are according to the class and
level of understanding, but the learning
objectives and outcomes are in a
conventional way. Students never get any
enjoyment and just reading & writing on
examination book, they never get any
knowledge about it. But in Marvelous
Mangroves Curriculum has clear learning
objectives and outcomes with which student
never feel fear with the education. They will
love to read and write and understand what
they do and should apply in their life. After the curriculum analysis, the participants sketched
drawings on their subjects in five groups and presented before the guests and facilitators.

Progress Review & Planning: Martin A. Keeley

In this session, Mr. Martin reviewed and analyzed of progress made during previous sessions and
said to all to work together and share information and knowledge to get a better outcome. He
facilitated a discussion to develop a plan for the curriculum with time-line for research, writing,
editing and publication of the teachers guide
to make the plan smooth. All participants
gave their input in the plan and made it well
organized. He also described on potential
funding sources for the project. As the funds
are still uncertain, he suggested to make a
voluntary working group who can work and
serve in any circumstances. Along with the
working
groups
of
the
workshop
participants, he suggested to add some
Page | 7

experts from environmental and education sector. To ensure better understanding he also
presented a documentary film on China and Cayman Island on how to make child-friendly
education materials.

Closing and Vote of Thanks

BOSM convener Mr. Sazzadur Rahim Pantha, Khulna University ES Discipline professor Dilip
Kumar Datta Ph.D, Kushal Roy, Martin A. Keeley and Hasan Mehedi addressed the workshop in
the closing session. Abu Sattar Mostafa
Kamal, Razib Bachhar and Mohammad
Alauddin expressed their impression on
behalf of the participants. Martin paid thanks
to the teachers and activists for warmth and
effective participation in the workshop. In his
speech Mehedi said that the organizers had
enough lack because of limited resources and
time. But the participants and all members made the workshop successful. He mentioned that it
is not all; a lot of work is remaining. It is a nice start from here; it is not an easy task to develop a
350 page teacher's guide. But if we will work together, it will be possible, must.
Dr. Dilip Kumar Datta and Sazzadur Rahim Pantha suggested to incorporate some topics of
exceptional species, culture and sustainable use of Sundarbans forest resources. With his
comments, Kushal Roy declared the closing of the three-day-long workshop.

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