Mother Tongue (language) is the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing a tangible and intangible heritage. In order to ensure children and young people originating from Bangladesh do not have gaps in mother tongue / language or cognitive development. Since June 1985 Bangla Centre runs a Bengali language school to provide Bengali children and young people the unique opportunity to learn and maintain proficiency in language education.
The Bangla School which had been operating since 1978 as a Bengali language and educational initiative to serve the purpose of Bangla-speaking community members in Scotland, especially the West of Scotland regions, remains at the heart of Bangla Centre. The School operates on weekends, and offers courses and classes in Bengali language and literature, numeracy and computer literacy, songs and music, dance, drama, art and painting, religious culture of Bangladesh, etc. During 1992 – 2008 a total of its 38 students have been accredited with the University of London / AQA Awards of GCSE qualification in ‘Bengali’ language and literature. Of special mention, since 1980 Mrs Salma Islam, popularly branded as ‘Mother Head Teacher’ of Bangla School, had devotedly contributed to the development of the School till her retirement in 1996.
Bangla Centre, as an Equal Opportunity employer, appoints teachers, workshop organiser, development workers, etc, in line with the laid-down recruitment rules. Notably, under financial assistance from the SRC/DPAV in 1994 and 1995 it employed Ms Ruth Davidson as Cultural Development Coordinator for two years. To add, since 1990 Mrs Shakuntala Datta as ‘Cultural Instructor’ devoted to raise the cultural profile of Bangla School children and the Centre’s young artists, performing from songs and dances to ‘dance dramas’, occasionally presented to large crowds at magnificent venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond.
The Centre encourages teachers to take up educational training courses now being offered at the City’s colleges and universities. Previously, two of its teachers were awarded Education Diploma Royal Society of Arts (RSA) certificates by Moray House, Edinburgh.
Currently Bangla Centre has 5 Teachers for its Bangla School courses, including a Cultural Instructor. Talented resource individuals from within the Bangladeshi Community in Greater Glasgow and beyond are selected and engaged for the Bangla School. The Centre used to maintain close relations with the International School of Shawlands Academy, the Bilingual Support Unit of GCC Education Services and the Bengali-origin teachers working in Scotland for feedback to its own teachers as well as preparedness of its students sitting for the GCSE examination in ‘Bengali’ subject.
The Bangla School is currently based at an easy location at the heart of Glasgow City – Townhead Village Hall, 60 St Mungo Avenue, Glasgow. The School offers all essential and necessary Bangla educational courses and amenities, and has the following unique features:
- Well-Trained and Efficient Bangla-Speaking Teachers;
- Provision of Updated Version of Books & Stationeries;
- Well-Furnished Secure Class Rooms;
- Flexible Class-Time and Class Duration;
- Cultural Tour for Immersion Learning;
- Provision of Dictionary and CDs to Enhance Learning; and
- Provision of Purified Water, Snacks & Drinks.
English
Bengali