13th Bangladesh Chemistry Olympiad (BChO-24)

13th Bangladesh Chemistry Olympiad (BChO-24)

• 21 May, 2024

• May 03, 2024
• May 17, 2024

13th BChO-24: https://www.ntvbd.com/education/news-1402801Chemistry Education in the Perspective of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a lower-middle-income, densely populated, and rapidly industrially growing country, the southern part of which is completely covered by the naturally rich Bay of Bengal. The country has great potential in science, especially chemistry education. In Bangladesh, chemistry education is very important for determining the destiny of the nation. A solid foundation in chemistry is crucial for students as the focus on science and technology grows. However, in order to raise and ensure the standard of chemistry instruction in Bangladesh, a number of issues must be resolved.

In an effort to promote global cooperation in chemistry education, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland established the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) in 1968. Currently, it draws 80-85 young kids a year from 80-85 different nations, encouraging global connections and igniting pupils' curiosity in chemistry through original problem-solving. With a large turnout, the Bangladesh Chemical Society (BCS) hosted the inaugural Bangladesh Chemistry Olympiad (BChO) in 2007.

Bangladesh Chemical Society (BCS) was established as a learned society in 1972. It is an organization of chemical scientists with common professional interests committed to promoting learning. BCS is a non-government, non-political professional organization of chemists at national level and is dedicated to improving the quality of chemical education and research, industrial and technological output, and overall well-being of the chemists, applied chemists, and chemical technologists of Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh successfully participated and competed in the 52nd IChO-2020 as an observer in Turkey, the 53rd IChO-2021 in Japan (virtual) and achieved “Honorable Mention”, the 54th IChO-2022 in China (virtual), and the 55th IChO in Switzerland (on-site) and achieved “Bronze Medal” in both the 54th and 55th IChO. The People's Republic of Bangladesh and other organizations are thanked by BCS for their support during the previous 16 years.

The dearth of resources and skilled instructors in higher educational institutes and schools is one of the primary problems. Many institutions find it difficult to supply sufficient lab space and the required tools for real-world research. This makes it more difficult for students to understand complicated chemical theories and concepts.

Reforming the curriculum is also necessary to make chemistry more interesting and applicable to everyday life. Students can gain a deeper comprehension of chemical concepts by combining interactive learning techniques, case studies, and practical experiments.

In conclusion, developing infrastructure, enhancing the curriculum, investing in teacher training, and continuous monitoring are all necessary to improve chemistry education in Bangladesh. Then and only then can we guarantee that students have the information and abilities necessary to thrive in a global market that is becoming more and more competitive.

I desire the best outcomes of the 13th BChO-24 and 56th IChO-24, scheduled to be held in July at Riyadh, KSA.

Best regards.

 

Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin

General Secretary of BCS

NR of CCE, IUPAC

Professor (Grade-1) of ACCE, CU

Ex-Professor of Chemistry, CU.