Durbeen is teaming up with Oxford and Helsinki universities to transform teacher education in Pakistan, aiming to develop highly qualified educators.
Durbeen has partnered with the Government of Sindh to take over the management of one of the oldest teacher education colleges in the region. This initiative links global best practices in teacher education through a partnership with the University of Helsinki in Finland and the University of Karachi. The goal is to rebrand and revamp a state-owned higher education institution to make it the leading teacher education college in Pakistan. Graduating teachers at this College, the first batch has already passed out, read here), will be placed in select government schools under Durbeen’s management, where they will ensure a high quality of education for children from all backgrounds.
Landmark Collaboration with the University of Oxford
The University of Oxford has signed a landmark contract with the Malala Fund to support Pakistani non-government organization Durbeen in training teacher-educators in Pakistan. This program is the first of its kind in South Asia, renowned rockstar and education reforms campaigner Shehzad Roy said.
In an interview at the university in London, Roy thanked Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai for her efforts in facilitating the partnership. He explained that the collaboration between Oxford and Durbeen has focused on developing the curriculum for the MS program to develop the faculty who will subsequently teach the BEd program in Pakistan’s Teacher Training Institutions.
The MS program will have five specialization tracks — Language, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Education Psychology. Each track will develop teacher-educators to teach a specific set of corresponding BEd courses. The goal is to develop a workforce that can turn around teacher education institutions across Pakistan, which, in turn, can develop a new generation of professionally trained, high-quality schoolteachers.
Key Individuals in the Partnership
The key individuals involved in this partnership include the Malala Fund, Shehzad Roy, founder of the Zindagi Trust, Salma A Alam, CEO of Durbeen, Dr. Ann Childs, Dr. Aliya Khalid, and Dr. Ian Thompson from the University of Oxford.
“If teachers are not trained properly then this affects children, and they end up getting qualifications but without the critical thinking and analytical skills that are needed in the modern age. This programme is designed for the trainers and the impact, we are sure, will be in terms of improvement in educational standards, for generations to come.”
Shehzad Roy highlighted the importance of proper teacher training.
Thompson mentioned that he visited Karachi and other parts of Pakistan to meet the teachers and their trainers to gain first-hand knowledge about how the teachers of teachers are trained.
“That helped us develop this specific program for the teachers’ teachers. We are confident this program will benefit the trainers a great deal. With our colleagues from Pakistan, we have put in a great effort in its development”
Dr. Ian Thompson
“This is a major milestone for Pakistan, especially as it focuses on teacher-educators as a separate cadre which is a first for Pakistan. In fact, even around the world, the University of Oxford is the only program focused solely on teacher-educators. Quality begins from the top — until we don’t have capable teacher-educators we can’t have a professionally qualified school teaching workforce, and it is exactly this change that Durbeen is trying to bring in partnership with the University of Oxford and Malala Fund.
Salma A Alam emphasized the significance of this initiative for Pakistan,
Through this program, we will develop teacher educators for Pakistan’s government teacher training institutions. These educators, in turn, will prepare teachers for government schools. This initiative marks the beginning of a future where Pakistan can become a hub of educational innovation,”
The Role of Teaching Licenses in Educational Reform
Shehzad Roy, in a previous interview with FUCHSIA Magazine, shared insights on the teacher training issues in government schools.
“When we did the teachers training in the government schools, we realized that teachers are a big issue. Even the best private schools do not have teachers. 90% of the teachers in private schools are not qualified to teach. So, we wrote this B.Ed. program. This is a 4-year degree program. There are 150 teachers training colleges in Pakistan, and 30 in Sindh. We did one turnaround in this, which was done by Durbeen. The first batch has passed out and is already posted in Fatima Jinnah and Khatoon e Pakistan schools of Zindagi Trust.”
Shehzad Roy
He also highlighted the significance of teaching licenses introduced by the Government of Sindh.
“The teaching license is a unique concept to Pakistan. The government of Sindh has introduced this license, and we all played a pivotal role in making this happen. An exam has been held and 400 teachers have qualified in Pakistan for the first time, just like doctors and engineers need a license, teachers also require a license to teach. They work towards the brain development of our children.”
Shehzad Roy
Roy proudly mentioned that 83% of teachers at Durbeen now have a license and the first batch, which passed out in 2023, is posted in Zindagi Trust schools.
“Teaching license is something parents will demand in schools going forward, to check out the quality of the teaching program. This is how it will mark a change in our education system.”
Shehzad Roy
This comprehensive approach to revamping teacher education in Pakistan, through global collaborations and innovative programs, marks a significant step towards improving educational standards and ensuring a brighter future for the country’s children.
