Pathshala Bangla School has just entered its 8th year of operations. The school is a fully self-funded BAAWA initiative that aims to teach Bangla language and numeracy skills to children in the Bangladeshi Australian community in Perth.
The following are the main features of the school:
- School term runs in parallel to the Western Australia State Primary School calendar, with four terms every year.
- School learning resources and curriculum developed with grant from the WA Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI).
- 10 teaching modules over two and a half years
- Student allocated to module at term start based on his/her skills and level
- Learning materials provided by school
- Tuition costs of $50 per term per student, with siblings receiving a 20% discount, to cover running costs such as class room hire.
- Classes held at the Canning Vale Recreation Centre every Sunday between 3.30 to 5 pm.
- Currently 15 students enrolled
- Four volunteer teachers with several years of teaching experience at the school
- One registrar who oversees the school administrative work
- School management committee with members drawn from parents, volunteer teachers, community members, and BAAWA EC. Current Chairperson Prof Abu Siddique, University of Western Australia
- School cultural activities at BAAWA Annual Concert and Bangla Fair
- National anthems
- Natok (play)
- Singing
- Future initiatives: a proposal to be presented at BAAWA AGM for an optional subject of Bangla singing class at the school, with a trained singing teacher
Pathshala Bangla School and BAAWA wish to thank students, parents, teachers and the community for their active support and patronage of the school which has made it into a self-sustaining and well-regarded educational initiative for the young generation of the Bangladeshi community in Western Australia.
