World Teachers’ Day is held every year on October 5 to honour teachers and recognise their contributions to education. In this regard You! highlights significant contributions of three dedicated teachers in the field of education. Read on…
Teachers’ Day is an occasion to honour the unsung heroes of our society - our educators. As Dan Rather beautifully said, “The dream begins, most of the time, with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you on to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called truth.” This day is not just a celebration but a moment to reflect on the profound impact teachers have on shaping our future.
World Teachers’ Day, celebrated annually on October 5th, honours teachers worldwide and commemorates the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which sets standards for their rights and responsibilities.
On this Teachers’ Day, we pay tribute to and salute all the teachers who have shaped us into responsible individuals and good citizens. Teachers enrich our lives - they hold our hands and guide us through our journey. They help us think outside the box, discern right from wrong, and instill ethics within us, building a strong and resilient society. Our teachers are the pillars of our success. They profoundly influence young minds, especially during their crucial transition into adulthood, and the quality of their teaching significantly impacts children’s learning outcomes.
Teaching is more than a profession; it is a calling. We entrust teachers with the immense responsibility of shaping our society. As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk wisely said, “A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”
However, despite their significant role in shaping successful youth and empowering future leaders, teachers in Pakistan remain among the most neglected segments of society. They face a number of challenges on a daily basis; majority of teachers do not get any support or recognition from government. “We, as teachers, are often unfairly criticised for the deplorable state of education in the country and are blamed for issues beyond our control. No one in our society or government seems to consider our welfare,” says Durreshahwar Aftab, a senior teacher. “We have valid questions: Why don’t we have medical benefits? Why isn’t there a teachers’ card to secure admission to good hospitals for proper healthcare? Why are there no housing schemes or special allowances for teachers to buy homes?” she questions.
“Despite poor school conditions and the lack of basic facilities like clean drinking water and functional washrooms, we remain committed to our roles. We also participate in major national activities such as elections, censuses, and polio campaigns. Yet, we remain victims of political interference, corruption, and mismanagement in the education system,” observes Afshan Kafeel, who has 30 plus years of teaching experience in the field of education.
However, it is heartening to note that despite facing a number of challenges, there are hundreds and thousands of committed and devoted teachers who are doing their jobs with utmost honesty and enthusiasm. On the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, You! highlights significant contributions of three dedicated teachers in the field of education. Read on…
Ms Amber Rizwan is the principal of GGSS NRL School, Saddar, Karachi. She began her teaching career in 1992, following her mother’s footsteps. Despite the challenges of being a single mother, she pursued her passion for education, earning a Master’s in Education (M.Ed.) with specialisation in early childhood education. Her unwavering commitment to professional growth led her to become a master trainer in several key areas, including SST, Islamic Studies, Management, and Election Commission Protocols.
Throughout her career, Ms Rizwan has shown exceptional dedication to elevating the quality of education at every institution she has led. As a principal, she integrates innovative teaching methodologies such as problem-based learning, project-based learning, and differentiated instruction. She emphasises Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, ensuring that each student’s unique strengths are nurtured. Her focus on inquiry-based learning has also encouraged students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
“As teachers we need to engage with the international teaching community, generating discussions to address day-to-day challenges in education. In the age of AI (Artificial Intelligence), it is crucial to nurture our students accordingly. This is only possible when we interact as a global teaching community,” suggests Ms Rizwan.
When Ms Rizwan took charge of Government Girls Primary School, Kharadar in 2000, the school building was in disrepair. Her vision and leadership transformed it. She credits her parents, especially her mother and father, for their immense support during this period. “My mother supported me academically while my father, who had a sanitary ware shop, provided whatever was needed for the building in terms of sanitary fittings. He personally arranged for everything – from pipes and tiles to washbasins and sinks. My father would get it done free of cost for my school,” elucidates Ms Rizwan. “As part of the small business community, he easily connected with other maintenance service providers. He helped gather resources and provided assistance for the repair work needed at the school,” she adds. By 2004, her efforts had elevated the school to such a high standard that admission became highly competitive, with parents vying for spots. The nursery section, in particular, became so well-developed that many mistook the school for a private institution, a testament to her ability to implement integrated planning for school success.
In 2005, Ms Rizwan was promoted and transferred to the prestigious Fazal Rahman Government Girls Secondary School. Though she initially intended to focus on teaching, her leadership abilities were quickly recognised, and she was entrusted with the administration. Under her leadership, the school saw substantial improvements, including the installation of clean drinking water, new furniture, a library, and a computer lab. Academic performance soared, with students consistently securing top 10 positions in board exams.
Ms Rizwan’s journey continued at the President House School, near the Governor House. Faced with a school in disrepair and rife with union-related challenges, her commitment to revitalising the institution resulted in a remarkable transformation. For three consecutive years, students from the school consistently secured top 10 positions in board exams, reflecting her outstanding leadership and dedication to creating a thriving educational environment. “While we have limited resources in schools, if we succeed in creating a supportive community around the school, we can tap into more resources. This includes professionals, skilled individuals and influential people who can contribute to the schools’ development. I followed this approach and I was able to gather aid for the development of schools where I worked,” shares Ms Rizwan.
With over two decades of service in education sector, Sadiya Durrani is an example of determination and hard work. Driven by an unwavering commitment to teaching, she has seamlessly balanced the demands of motherhood with a distinguished career, demonstrating that anything can be possible if one is persistent in one’s efforts.
Her pursuit of higher education took her to Australia on a hard-earned scholarship, where she earned advanced degrees in Educational Leadership while supporting her family through part-time work. Her diverse experiences with the Teachers Resource Centre, British Council, SZABIST University, and various government sectors have deepened her understanding of the educational landscape, enabling her to turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
While sharing her views with this scribe, Ms Durrani expresses, “These days many teachers view teaching merely as a job. A considerable number of teachers do not have B.Ed. degree, (mandatory for teachers) which results in incompetence and falling standards of teaching/education. We also face a shortage of resources to organise and conduct continuous professional development programmes.”
Armed with a mission to enhance skills of educators, Ms Durrani has trained countless teachers and mentored school leaders and management teams - imparting comprehensive knowledge of teaching pedagogies and interactive techniques. She believes that dedicated educators hold the key to a brighter future. According to her students, she is a complete institute in herself, refining and polishing their skills with remarkable enthusiasm.
For nearly a decade, Ms Durrani has served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education at SZABIST University. In this role, she has shaped the next generation of educators, blending academic rigor with real-world insights to prepare teachers for the dynamic challenges of modern classrooms. Her contributions extend beyond teaching, influencing curriculum development and faculty training, reflecting her steadfast commitment to educational excellence.
Driven by an incessant passion for teaching, Ms Tasneem Sarwar has been nurturing young minds for 32 years. From an early age, her deep attachment to children in her family highlighted her innate desire to teach. After a one-year Montessori course with accolades, Ms Tasneem began her teaching career at a local school. Her experience with the Montessori Method, including understanding child psychology was enlightening. She learned how the learning environment impacts a child’s lifelong development, deepening her appreciation for the role of education in shaping young minds.
Ms Tasneem Sarwar then transitioned to a semi-government school, where she faced and overcame numerous challenges over fourteen years. Her dedication and efforts led to significant contributions to the school’s educational environment. Her subsequent work in the development sector exposed her to the stark contrast between privileged and underprivileged schools. Driven by a commitment to equality, she focused on enhancing teacher skills and improving educational quality, witnessing substantial growth in the capabilities of educators.
In her professional journey, Ms Tasneem Sarwar has been involved in curriculum development, training modules, and teacher training both in Pakistan and internationally. Her work in community service and social work over the years has been centred on providing high-quality education to children from underprivileged backgrounds, striving to offer them the same opportunities available in elite schools. She highlighted the importance of introducing interactive teaching techniques and training skills to teachers to adapt with ongoing educational revolutions. “This prepares them to stand alongside international standards in learning and teaching pedagogies. However, this important aspect is often ignored. As a result, we lag far behind in adopting AI techniques,” laments Ms Tasneem
Sarwar. “For me, continuous professional development is the backbone of teaching,” she concludes.
The writer is a development professional. She can be reached at quratmudasar@gmail.com
