Established in Karachi in 1978, The City School today is one of the largest private school networks in Pakistan with branches all over the major cities across the country.
Winning is a habit
Established in Karachi in 1978, The City School today is one of the largest private school networks in Pakistan with branches all over the major cities across the country. The Smart School - a project of The City School - through its Southern Region honoured 51 students from 17 campuses for their high achievement in Matric Board Examination 2016-17 on August 26, 2017.
Mian Ahmad Farhan (Project Director, The Smart School) addressed the ceremony: “At The Smart School we are focusing on smart learning through utilizing technology advancements and by following best practices in addressing the youth. I want the youth to emphasize on the character building by rightly identifying your responsibilities in specific roles.” He announced a privileged scholarship to all Smart School students upon taking admission in college.
Mian Ahmad Farhan was joined by Mr. Adil Ismail (General Manager Sothern Region, The Smart School) to distribute awards and cash prizes amongst the students. Certificates and shields were also distributed amongst the teachers to honour their hard work.
Enhancing dental education
A one-of-a-kind, high-fidelity dental simulation lab that promises a safer and more effective way to educate dental professionals and students was inaugurated at the Aga Khan University (AKU) on August 30, 2017.
At AKU’s newly launched facility, 17 state-of-the-art ‘phantom heads’ - patient mannequins - are available, specially designed to mimic the challenges of a real-life clinical environment. Each mannequin contains the full range of dental instruments, tools such as air and water suction, and computer-based feedback facilities needed to help students and practicing dentists improve their skills.
“You may have the knowledge, but you have to develop the hand-eye coordination, the motor skills and judgment associated with basic and advanced dentistry procedures,” says Dr. Farhan Raza Khan, Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry at AKU. “A simulation lab offers an environment where you can practice, practice, practice until you are ready to treat a patient as a person, rather than worry only about their teeth.”
Unlike on-the-job-training in a clinic, the lab also offers the opportunity to learn from experts around the world. “We offer a ‘global’ classroom, with teaching and learning sessions offered by specialist dentists from anywhere in the world in real time, supported by our advanced videoconferencing facilities. This really does makes us a one-of-a-kind lab in Pakistan,” said Dr. Mubassar Fida, Associate Professor of Orthodontics at AKU.
The university initially plans to begin using the facility to educate students pursuing a two-year Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene as well as residents undergoing specialised four-year programmes in operative dentistry and orthodontics. It will also be available to students from dental schools across the country and practicing professionals interested in continuing professional education in dentistry.
In-service teachers training at Fazaia Inter College, Korangi Creek
The most important factor in fulfilling the values the society expects from education is the teacher. So, it is important to provide the best possible training to teachers. To this end, Fazaia Inter College, Korangi Creek arranges in-service teachers training programmes frequently for new and old teachers. This year also, an in-service programme was held at college premises with the aim to:
All senior and junior teachers participated in the programme to enhance their learning skills. The theme of these training courses was to develop “Effective Approaches to Classroom Teaching”.
The training session was divided into four different groups: Information Communication Technology (ICT), Basic Pedagogical Skills (BPS), English Language Training (ELT) and General Continuing Professional Orientation (GCPO). The objective of these sessions was to disseminate meaningful perceptions and devices for strengthening the quality of teaching and learning and to empower the future generation.
In-service training is an essential element in the professional development of teachers. Keep up the good work, Fazaia Inter College!
Certificate please!
It is a sad fact that militants have penetrated our colleges and universities. The authorities recently disclosed the presence of terrorist element in one of the biggest universities of Pakistan, the University of Karachi, popularly called KU. The news came to light when it was revealed by the authorities that Sarosh Siddiqui, the mastermind of the Eid-day attack on MQM-P leader Khawaja Izharul Hasan, was a student at KU. Siddiqui, it is held, is one of the leaders of the terrorist group “Ansarul Sharia”. So far, he has not been apprehended.
While curbing terrorism in educational institutions must be the top priority of the provincial and federal governments, they should ensure that ordinary students are not affected. There have been talks about students requiring security clearance certificate to enter KU, which is quite disturbing.
Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani had sent a letter to university’s VC, stating that the news regarding sharing students’ record to intelligence agencies will create unrest among them.
The Vice Chancellor of KU, Dr Mohammad Ajmal Khan remarked: “Terrorist activities are taking place all over the country and in other varsities, too, but the way KU is being framed and defamed in the media is highly alarming.”
He also said that the university’s administration is considering handing over student records to the concerned security and intelligence officials.
