Bangladesh has always been a country of immense potential. Our Bangladesh is a heavenly land of natural beauty, abundant in water, crops and forests. The year 2025 is a very important time for this country. With the change in the government system that was unilaterally controlled for 16 years, there have been major changes in the country's art, literature, culture, people's way of life, education, health, politics and social policy. Through the August Revolution of 2024, a new government has been established in the process of government change. The aspect that the government has given more importance to in the overall reform process of the country is education. This government has promised to make 2025 a prosperous and optimistic year for the teaching profession by arranging a new plan to revive the education sector.
In this process of change and refinement in the education sector, teachers will have to make extensive preparations to implement whatever curriculum the government proposes. Although the changing and evolving education system poses many challenges for teachers, teachers need to prepare themselves well to face them. Therefore, to face all the challenges of 2025, I am trying to outline some notable tips for teachers, which will help them overcome any crisis and guide them to provide the best possible educational outcomes for the students under their care.
The biggest preparation for teachers in 2025 will be to improve their technological skills. In the coming years, the importance of using technology in the education market will increase and many sophisticated platforms will emerge to provide a better environment for education and ensure learning tools. If teachers are not prepared to use them properly, they will fail to taste the true taste of education and educational institutions will also face extreme losses. The likes of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a more central role in education than in the past. If we do not master these tools in a more interactive, personalized and teaching style, there is a possibility of losing the main purpose of education. Many teachers already know that platforms like ChatGPT and other AI-powered teaching assistants have already started to transform their teaching-learning process. That is, professional teachers can improve their skills with the help of these modern platforms and focus on more valuable tasks than administrative and time-consuming tasks. Therefore, it is essential for teachers to invest in learning about new technologies and staying informed about emerging tools that can improve our education and this should be a priority for teachers in 2025.
CPD (Continuous Professional Development) is a regular preparation for teachers in 2025. Training is crucial to enable professional teachers to progress in their careers and enhance their existing skills. The education market is not static, it is constantly changing. Therefore, teachers need to focus on CPD and constantly take up new learning opportunities to stay up to date with the latest requirements. This is particularly important with the above-mentioned growth in technology and those who can capitalize on these opportunities and develop relevant key skills will be in significant demand everywhere.
Boosting teachers’ own network is one of the best ways to prepare them for the 2025 Academic Year. It helps them build relationships with their peers and the wider education community. Not only does it make teachers’ professional lives significantly more enjoyable, it can also open doors to new opportunities. Teachers can build their network by joining professional associations, engaging with professionals on social media, or attending industry events and conferences. There is a saying, ‘It’s not what you know, but who you know that counts.’ Your connections, friends and former or current colleagues can all advocate for you, if you can build your presence in this way. For this reason and more, it is worth maintaining and expanding teachers’ networks wherever possible.
Health is the greatest gift from Allah. And it is essential for teachers to be healthy for the teaching profession. Therefore, teachers need to prioritize their physical and mental well-being. John Milton defined education as the harmonious development of body, soul, and mind. To sustain the teaching profession, teachers must maintain good health. They should incorporate aspects such as mindfulness and exercise into their daily routines and set aside regular time for their hobbies and personal lives. They should access mental health resources or peer support networks for additional support when needed. The new government has already placed emphasis on life skills education to provide students with a more rounded education. So, as part of the changing and transformative education reforms of the 2025 academic year, teachers need to develop a mindset for planning lessons around protecting their own and their students’ well-being. Remember, the future of education is not just about adapting to change; it is also about being a driving force.
To keep teachers in a strong position in 2025, they will need to increase their adaptability to adapt to artificial intelligence (AI) skills. In all sectors of the developed world, AI has changed almost every aspect of their lives, including higher education. From generative AI tools in the classroom to conversations in their student management systems, it promises to be a game changer. Although AI is a relatively new technology available to schools, colleges, madrasas, and universities, it can be very challenging to deploy it in institutions, yet as the world moves forward at a rapid pace, our teachers need to acquire the ability to use AI tools. Otherwise, it will become very difficult for teachers to survive in the competitive market.
This academic year, teachers will need to develop a research-based mindset to set the curriculum for the modern world. The development of digital methods and the ability to freely roam the net world are essential preparations for teachers. The institutional education system of human life is constantly changing and new additions of diverse experiences are also coming in line with human needs. If teachers lag behind in internet technology, preparing students to face the challenges of the 21st century will be seriously hampered. Therefore, teachers will have to adapt to all the needs of the era with all the internet-based social media.
Teachers need to prepare themselves to be proficient in multiple languages. A teacher who is proficient in one language is completely alone and cannot establish relationships with speakers of other languages. On the other hand, a teacher who is proficient in multiple languages can easily collaborate with international educators and research the teaching styles of students accustomed to multiculturalism. This not only increases the self-esteem of multilingual teachers, but also makes it easier to maintain international standards in the teaching process. Therefore, in the 2025 academic year, teachers will need to prepare themselves to be proficient in at least one other language, including English, in addition to their mother tongue.
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is an essential skill for teachers to be prepared for the Academic Year 2025. It helps them understand students' minds and motivates them with a positive attitude. In the coming years students will have the possibility to become over smart and behave with the teachers differently, for which teachers will have to have EI skills for making them self-respected, self-aware and self-motivated.
In short, since 2025 is an important year for many changes and refinements in the education system compared to 2024, teachers need to build strong morale as part of their preparation. Teachers must make all preparations to practice advanced technology, become proficient in digital education, pay special attention to the physical and mental health of teachers and students in the classroom, receive training on professional development, engage with all internet-based social media, become familiar with international curricula, and establish themselves as proficient in multiple languages for the overall development of education. Only then, they will be able to successfully establish themselves with a strong mind to face all the upcoming and future challenges of the 2025 academic year. It must be remembered that the preparation of teachers today is a shining example of being recognized as the ideal teachers of the future.
The writer is a Principal of Daffodil International School, Dhaka and President of Bangladesh International Schools Association (BISA).
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