A Discussion with Paskalina Costa, Secondary School Teacher, Bottomley Homes Orphanage School, Dhaka, Bangladesh
With: Paskalina Costa Berkley Center Profile
June 11, 2014
Background:
As
part of the Education and Social Justice Fellowship, in June 2014 student
Kendra Layton interviewed Paskalina Costa, a teacher at Bottomley Homes
Orphanage School (BHOS) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Beginning in 1946 for orphan
children of World War II, BHOS now serves over 1,600 female students from first
through tenth grade. Around 140 of those students live in the orphanage next to
the school, which results in a mixture of socio-economic and ethnic diversity.
In this interview Paskalina Costa reflects on her transition from a school in
the Chittagong region to one in Dhaka and her aspirations for her students.
What
subjects and classes do you teach?
Mathematics, physics, and chemistry, all the science subjects. Classes eight, nine and ten.
How long have you been a teacher here?
I have been at this school for 10 years. Before that I taught at Scholastica Girl’s High School in Chittagong for 13 years in the same subjects.
What was it that brought you from Chittagong to Dhaka?
I had one daughter and one son. My elder daughter is a doctor. She was admitted to the famous Dhaka Medical College in 2004. There was no space in the hostel so she lived in a dining hall with 100 other girls. It was so congested, and she couldn’t sleep. She was always crying, so in 2005 I resigned at that school and came to Dhaka with my husband.
What are the differences you see between the school in Chittagong and Bottomley Homes Orphanage School?
The teaching method, administration, and teaching staff are the same. The quality of the students is so different. At that school, many of the students were very brilliant, and because of that, their results were better than those in this school.
Why might that be?
This is an orphanage school. Across the street there is Holy Cross College. The brainy and bright students go there, and the low caliber come to our school.
Among the students here around 140 are from the orphanage. What would you say are some of their greatest challenges?
The number of students in classes is very high. Also, the girls from surrounding areas are often absent. Their parents are not so serious. The majority of students come to school regularly, but some do not care.
When a student does not come to school, what are the steps you take?
Our headmistress always reminds them about the importance of coming to school. In my classes, I always talk to them about the benefits of regular attendance.
What do you see as the benefits of bringing students together from the orphanage and affluent areas?
We do not make any separation. In my classes, I mix them, and I do not separate them. I do not encourage them to do it either. I tell them, “You are all the same.”
What are your hopes for your students in the future?
I hope one day they will be doctors, engineers, journalists, and teachers or have other different professions. I want them to be good and honest people.
Do you mix some life advice with your science subjects?
I encourage them, and I lead by example.
What do you see as the importance of science and mathematics here in Bangladesh?
If our students learn more about science and technology, our country will develop.
Is there anything else you would like to add or share?
Our students should not just read their school books. I want them to know about the world. They must read other books, all types of books. I want them to know about history and science so they do not only know about Bangladesh but the rest of the world.
I also think I have limitations as a teacher. I do not know what knowledge I give them. I must try my best. I want to be a good teacher and continue teaching more in the future. I want to do it for the students.
Mathematics, physics, and chemistry, all the science subjects. Classes eight, nine and ten.
How long have you been a teacher here?
I have been at this school for 10 years. Before that I taught at Scholastica Girl’s High School in Chittagong for 13 years in the same subjects.
What was it that brought you from Chittagong to Dhaka?
I had one daughter and one son. My elder daughter is a doctor. She was admitted to the famous Dhaka Medical College in 2004. There was no space in the hostel so she lived in a dining hall with 100 other girls. It was so congested, and she couldn’t sleep. She was always crying, so in 2005 I resigned at that school and came to Dhaka with my husband.
What are the differences you see between the school in Chittagong and Bottomley Homes Orphanage School?
The teaching method, administration, and teaching staff are the same. The quality of the students is so different. At that school, many of the students were very brilliant, and because of that, their results were better than those in this school.
Why might that be?
This is an orphanage school. Across the street there is Holy Cross College. The brainy and bright students go there, and the low caliber come to our school.
Among the students here around 140 are from the orphanage. What would you say are some of their greatest challenges?
The number of students in classes is very high. Also, the girls from surrounding areas are often absent. Their parents are not so serious. The majority of students come to school regularly, but some do not care.
When a student does not come to school, what are the steps you take?
Our headmistress always reminds them about the importance of coming to school. In my classes, I always talk to them about the benefits of regular attendance.
What do you see as the benefits of bringing students together from the orphanage and affluent areas?
We do not make any separation. In my classes, I mix them, and I do not separate them. I do not encourage them to do it either. I tell them, “You are all the same.”
What are your hopes for your students in the future?
I hope one day they will be doctors, engineers, journalists, and teachers or have other different professions. I want them to be good and honest people.
Do you mix some life advice with your science subjects?
I encourage them, and I lead by example.
What do you see as the importance of science and mathematics here in Bangladesh?
If our students learn more about science and technology, our country will develop.
Is there anything else you would like to add or share?
Our students should not just read their school books. I want them to know about the world. They must read other books, all types of books. I want them to know about history and science so they do not only know about Bangladesh but the rest of the world.
I also think I have limitations as a teacher. I do not know what knowledge I give them. I must try my best. I want to be a good teacher and continue teaching more in the future. I want to do it for the students.
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