Sindh Minister for Education and Mineral Development Syed Sardar Ali Shah has stated that the status of a teacher has always been sacred in all societies. The top priority in the context of educational reforms in Sindh is the teachers.
For the first time, teaching has been recognized as a profession in Sindh with the introduction of a licensing policy, and efforts to improve the quality of teachers through the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) model have begun.
He made these remarks on Saturday while addressing a ceremony held in Karachi in honour of World Teachers’ Day. The ceremony, organized under the auspices of the Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority (STEDA), took place at the Scouts Headquarters in Karachi. Present at the occasion were Secretary School Education Zahid Ali Abbasi, former caretaker minister of education Rana Hussain, Executive Director STEDA Syed Rasool Bux Shah, social personalities Shehzad Roy and Salma Roy, as well as teachers, students, education officers, and others.
Addressing the gathering, Sindh’s Minister for Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah said a teacher plays a role like diving into a deep ocean to bring out pearls, providing the best people for society. He said that anyone who teaches, formally or informally, is considered a teacher. By improving the quality of teaching, we can make future generations more capable. Everything good that we see in the world today is a gift from teachers who taught us.
Sardar Shah mentioned that the Sindh government is working to modernize the quality of education in schools, and improving the quality of teaching is the key to our development. Emphasizing the importance of teachers, the provincial minister stressed that it is essential to encourage them, and it is everyone’s duty to appreciate their hard work.
He also said that recognizing teaching as a full-fledged profession in Sindh has led to the introduction of the Teachers’ Licence. Under the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) model, training for teachers is ongoing, and we are working on activity-based learning. The provincial education minister reminded the audience that Sindh’s public school teachers outperformed UNESCO standards, securing first place and showcasing better performance. He added that the sanctity of teachers in schools has been affected by a few individuals, but there is certainly no shortage of qualified teachers in our schools. He stressed that if the role of teachers is removed from society, our existence would be at risk. Shah expressed his respect for all teachers who perform their duties with sincerity.
Secretary School Education Zahid Ali Abbasi said all teachers who pass the Teachers’ Licence Test will soon be granted their licences. Additionally, rules regarding promotions and other benefits have also been established. During the ceremony, awards and certificates of appreciation were given to teachers who excelled in improving the quality of teaching and presenting modern concepts.