In conversation with teacher, development practitioner and content creator Sakib Bin Rashid
Professional Trainer
Content Consultant
10 Minute School
Photograph: Najmul Haque Sagor
You were one of the first instructors of 10 Minute School. Please elaborate on this journey.
I started teaching at 10 Minute School in 2015. Back then, we were just getting started, so we just had a Facebook page and YouTube channel, and our operations were limited. I met Ayman Sadiq through a mutual friend. When admission season started, 10 Minute School became very popular. At that time, I started teaching English and General Knowledge for Dhaka University D unit, which is where I was admitted. If I talk about the evolution of content, in the early days, we had a very simple set up; we would use a camera, and write things by hand on paper or a white board. As time went on, we were able to create more sophisticated content, using smart boards and other technology. At present, we strive to create more visual content that is also more interactive. We also carry out zoom sessions where the students can ask questions. During the height of the pandemic, when online learning became the norm, 10 Minute School became the best platform that could deliver digital learning content. Since then, the organisation has expanded exponentially.
You are currently one of the country’s most popular content creators. How did this journey begin?
I don’t know if I’m one of the most popular content creators right now. There has been a surge of amazing young content creators at the moment. My journey of content creation actually started with 10 Minute School, and that was my first experience being in front of the camera. However, I was always the funny kid in the class. I started exploring that side of me in 2018. My claim to fame, if I will call it that, is when I started making reviews for episodes of the final season of Game of Thrones, and these videos became quite popular. I already had a Facebook page for my educational content, but that was my 10 Minute School personna, so I did not share my comedy content there. I have a separate account where I post comedy, movie and television reviews, and more.
When people ask me what identity I prefer, being a comic, a development practitioner or a teacher, I always say teacher. I take a lot of pride in being able to guide people in achieving their academic or career related dreams.
You have been involved in the education sector for quite some time. How do you envision the future of education, and what role do you see yourself playing in it?
I always pride myself in being a teacher. When people ask me what identity I prefer, being a comic, a development practitioner or a teacher, I always say teacher. I take a lot of pride in being able to guide people in achieving their academic or career related dreams. Working with 10 Minute School and BRAC Education Program, I have realised that people all over the country have enormous potential. When someone gets into a good educational institution, receives guidance, and has a good environment for learning, their whole life changes and it opens up a lot of opportunities. I always want to be around education, in one form or another. I believe the future is very bright for Bangladesh. Regardless of all the challenges we face, our biggest strength is the people. We need education at all levels, and digital education is the future. The Internet gives us the ability to reach places where we cannot go physically. The existing education system is insufficient, both in terms of quantity and quality, which is why I believe that online educators of virtual platforms like 10 Minute School are an important supplement to the education system, and I would like to continue to keep playing a part in this. I want to teach online for as long as possible.
I believe the future is very bright for Bangladesh. Regardless of all the challenges we face, our biggest strength is the people. We need education at all levels, and digital education is the future.
You are a prominent figure in the Bangladeshi debating community. How do your debating skills translate into your professional life?
I always say that I would not have become the person I am today if I had not been into debating. Debating gave me a lot of confidence, and it gave me a grip of English. I remember when I was in seventh or eighth grade, when I started debating in English, I could not complete a sentence, and I had to translate everything in my head first. Debating gave me confidence, and now, I teach English online. The other thing I learned from debating is the ability to think critically. People nowadays tend to be very binary in their way of thinking.
Thanks to debating, I am able to think for myself, go against mainstream opinions and question everything.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t be afraid. You are smarter than you think you are, and you will do just fine in life. Stop panicking, and invest in yourself.