Is 'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' an Impactful Investment for IPDC?

It was the evening of Pohela Falgun. Defeating traffic, I reached home just minutes before the presentation. I was going to present the campaign 'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' before the jury of Bangladesh Innovation Award 2022. For some reason, I could not manage time to prepare for it. So, I closed my eyes for 10 seconds. And tried to see how my memory summarizes my three-year experience with the campaign in 10 seconds for me. Then I joined the online session. Without ever changing the slide, I talked for 4 minutes 50 seconds (they gave a 5 minute slot). What did I say?

1. The modality
2. The power of the campaign to touch the hearts of the teachers

And... nothing else.

More than numbers, the big picture of 'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' lies in the authentic emotion it induces among the teacher community. Narrating that big picture helped me with the presentation that evening. And again, with that same narrative, today I answer a question people often ask: Is 'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' an Impactful Investment for IPDC?

Who is a 'Priyo Shikkhok'?

Let me quote what eminent educationist and a regular adviser of this campaign Mohammad Kaykobad said to define 'Priyo Shikkhok':

"????? ???????? ? ???????????? ?????????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ??????? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ??????? ???????? ??? ????? ?????????? ????? ???? ???? ? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ?????????? ?? ???????????? ?????? ???????"

To help you better understand: 'Priyo Shikkhok' refers to that teacher from school level who goes beyond his or her regular duties to ensure a better future for the students and is able to create a special bond with the students by the merit of personality, words, care and discipline. 'Priyo Shikkhok' are some selfless dedicated souls for the welfare of the students. They earn a permanent place in the hearts of the students. They are like 'Alfred Borden' from the movie The Prestige. They live the character 'teacher' with utmost sincerity.

If you notice carefully, its not about the 'Best' teachers or 'Shera' shikkhok. Its all about the ones who stay in the heart. They ignite their students in the best possible way.

The Nomination process that gives life to the idea

The ex-students themselves write for their teachers to nominate their 'Priyo Shikkhok'. This is what makes the initiative more meaningful. Its an opportunity for the indebted students to get back to their root and pay tribute to their childhood mentors. And just think how teachers feel! Year after year, those teachers worked for the betterment of the students without expecting anything in return. And now, all on a sudden, they get to know some grateful student declares them as 'Priyo Shikkhok'. The element of surprise here is larger than life.

The prize giving show: an exhibition of lifetime works of the teachers

Here is a link of a write-up I published after the first edition of this campaign. The write-up explained how nostalgia plays a big role in the final event decoration. The full show takes us back to our childhood days of school.

During the program, AVs are played for each teacher portraying all the thoughtful works they have done, their philosophy and the incredible efforts they have given for their respective schools, their students. Some of them are aided by verbatim from ex-students. Such display of one's most passionate efforts in a grand hall room and in front of country's some of the top-notch intellectuals makes for an experience you can never buy with money. All the hard-works they did for years suddenly receive recognition in an unthinkable fashion. When we see tears coming down their cheek with smile on the lips, we feel so fulfilled that we are involved with such a humane initiative.

The social Perspective

32 teachers in the three editions so far have been recognized as 'Priyo Shikkhok' all of who have contributed in diversified ways. Some took strict stance against child marriage. Some fought against eve teasing. Some helped students with tuition fees from their own pocket. Some restructured school operation and turned the school into one with best results. Many of them went to students' homes to teach them outside of school hours without any pay. Some of them invented interesting means of teaching to increase participation. They could easily get their salary without all these initiatives. But they thought otherwise.

Its these extra efforts from some dedicated human beings that create new human resources for Bangladesh from even backward regions. Education survives in these places because of such teachers. While helping students build their career, these teachers end up building the nation. 'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' is thus an absolutely essential initiative. Acknowledging the contribution, encouraging the future teachers and thus ensuring quality education across the country are of course impactful and socially beneficial. As a socially responsible firm, IPDC happily chooses to spend time and effort for this annual initiative just for these reasons. But to satisfy the thirst of the ones looking for commercial benefits, i am writing the following part.

Alignment with IPDC's Strategic Goals

Let's share the Vision of IPDC:

To become the most passionate financial brand in the country with special focus on youth, women and underserved areas

As part of standing beside the underserved areas, IPDC has been working relentlessly to popularize its Affordable Home Loan or as we dub it as 'Bhalo Basha Home Loan'. Very soon, IPDC is going to officially launch its pilot product 'IPDC EZ' (consumer financing for electronic goods, furniture, home appliance, travel etc.). Areas outside Dhaka will be very vital for the success of EZ. Going beyond megacities with financial service means spreading trust beyond megacities. Its not easy with just a few branches outside Dhaka-Chittagong.

'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' has been helping us here in generating trust in a meaningful way. IPDC is reaching people outside megacity with an idea which almost everyone agrees to.

Besides, gaining the trusts of teaching community with such a platform is a sustainable way to create trust. In district towns, teachers are opinion leaders in many issues. Even teachers themselves belong to the list of primary TGs outside megacity. Generating positive word-of-mouth among the teaching community can do wonders. When IPDC is giving them acknowledgement, IPDC is not selling itself; rather showing the thoughtfulness and the class of the organization. IPDC is treating them with mind-blowing experience. The brand is becoming a part of their moments of accomplishment. And that probably is the best kind of branding.

The salesforce of the organization also says that Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona is easing access to teachers for IPDC outside megacity. Close to 20% of total customer of Bhalo Basha Loan are teachers.

The collaboration with Prothom Alo is another positive side from this campaign. This ensures both credibility and exposure to a huge number of people. Every year the participation is increasing. This year we received 1697 submissions from around the country!

During nomination invitation phase, Prothom Alo arranges regional programs named 'Shudhi Shomabesh' in different districts. Notable persons from each district attend the regional program at their respective hometown. Each program is attended by more than 100 on an average. Every year, Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona is getting bigger. With time, it is turning out to be a more credible platform to recognize the contribution of school-level teachers. The emotions of the teachers and their students surrounding this is making this into an asset for IPDC. As said before, the sense of purpose is larger than numbers.

Our nation is built with millions of unknown stories. These are stories in which some extra-ordinary schoolmasters play the role of protagonists without ever expecting a reward. These stories create careers and human resources and build the nation in turn. 'Priyo Shikkhok Shommanona' is an exhibition of these heart touching stories. It's a platform to pay tribute to years of hard-work by some passionate school teachers. When I closed my eyes for 10 seconds before the presentation, I saw the fulfilment in the eyes of the winning teachers; the happiness of their meaningful endeavor getting a meaningful acknowledgement. And IPDC is proud to make them feel like that. The 10-second guide to my presentation is also the answer of the question asked as Title of this write-up.

Thematic AV 1

Thematic AV 2

Website: https://www.priyoshikkhok.com/