Professional Skill Development Through the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology: The First of its Kind in Bangladesh

DOI: 10.5176/2251-1865_CBP14.62

Authors: Nafiza Ferdowshi, Dr.Shamim F. Karim and Dr. Shaheen Islam

Abstract:

Although school attendance has increased in Bangladesh, effectiveness of learning however, has not improved. In this context, it is essential to have trained educational psychologists to enhance effectiveness of school systems and improve the standard of education. There was no single educational psychologist to work for approximately 30 million school-going children in Bangladesh and had no professional training course in Educational Psychology. On the other hand, increasing understanding of status and role of counsellor is deemed essential to achieve professionalism of counselling service in Bangladesh. In view of this, a professional degree course was initiated in 1997 with help and support of University of East London and an independent Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology was formed in August 2011 to serve the community, and to develop a core group of trained teachers to carry out professional training of Educational Psychology and Counselling Psychology, University of Dhaka.

Keywords: Professional degree course, Educational Psychologist, Counselling Psychologist