Information Literacy (IL) Skills among the Female Students of Rural Secondary Schools in Dhaka, Bangladesh: is this build up Knowledge Society?

Abstract

It has been said that Information Literacy (IL) is not new. Paul G. Zurkowski (1974) is the originator of the term “information literacy". IL is new initiatives to Bangladesh (Hoq, 2006). As an awareness campaign, Centre for Information Studies, Bangladesh (CIS, B) and United Nations Information Center (UNIC)-Dhaka are jointly conducting training programs on IL for rural secondary schools of Bangladesh (Forest, 2013). No programs for improving information capabilities can be conceived until an objective investigation is conducted about the level of IL skills among Bangladeshi school students. The objectives of the study were to know the pattern of library use and other supplementary sources by the students; approach of using ICT sources; to develop a course module on IL training and suggestions for implementing IL program in Bangladesh. The work was an empirical study and survey method was used that supported by observations and interviews. The study provided analysis of the prevailing situation that helps in planning for policy makers to integrate IL courses in the mainstream of the secondary school education system. This paper also tried to identify the activities performed in the training courses through which students were empowered to build up knowledge society (Empowering ..., 2008). Further, in-depth research is needed to back these marginally significant findings and there is a need for mass awareness raising program about IL in Bangladesh.