Dhaka, Bangladesh Report of what it's like to live there - 03/02/15
Personal Experiences from Dhaka, Bangladesh
School Name:
School Name: AISD
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Second grade
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2013-2015
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
U.S. government
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
It had been the school recommended by the U.S. Embassy.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
They'll take your child into another room for placement testing. In second grade, and there is little to zero communication between the school administration and parents.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
They have a standard and pleasing intake process and a beautiful campus.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
It's a "feel good" school - but there is little to no expectation for learning basic fundamental or accountability in math, writing, spelling, science.
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
Yes - everyone is equally ignored by school administration.
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
There is zero communication standard. It is solely up to the teacher to want to communicate with a parent.
4. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
There is no service or extra support to keep gifted students stimulated or interested in learning.
5. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
yes
6. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
The homework is a journal where students will write or draw a picture nightly. The homework is not telling of what the student has been learning or what is expected of the child. Math homework is done on a tablet, and is student-led - it is a game that is easily manipulated and it is common for students in second/third grade not to be able to add or subtract simple problems.
7. Administration-parent communication:
The administration does a very poor job of putting their contact information out to parents. In my experience, the administration has not listened to parents, teachers, or support staff, and are not willing to improve academic standards.
8. Teacher-student communication:
Children seem to enjoy school, but they are playing all day - not learning how to read/math/write.
9. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
yes.
10. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
no
11. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
no - our very typical child without disabilities is not learning how to write/read/do math from the teachers - the school suggested getting a tutor to teach these basics - and the school offered to write a letter so the Embassy would pay the US$50 hourly fee for American School teachers/tutors.
12. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
no
13. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
14. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
The school is missing any type of academic standards. The school administration likes to compare themselves to other international school in the area that are not accompanied posts, like Afghanistan - and they compare themselves to a 'typical American School' not a private school in the States that charges between US$25,000 and $40,000.
15. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
yes
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
The library is very nice.
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
The school leans heavily on technical tablets and computers for learning, teaching, and homework. The school crutches on technical equipment, students have a hard time using pencils and pens, and coloring.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
The PE teacher grades on ability - not participation or enjoyment. For example if your child cannot score goals or score points in the game, their grade is affected.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
one teacher to 20 students with at least one or more full-time local support staff.
6. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
no
7. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
8. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
yes
9. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
no
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
yes
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
the building is beautiful
2. Greatest challenge?
Communication between administration - and asking for academic responsibility is the greatest challenge.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
NEVER - we're switching schools and when we contacted another local school- they have an established system in place to accept kids from AISD, bring them up to grade standard and matriculate them into their grade. It's common for students leaving AISD to repeat a full academic year or more when they repatriate.
