Durbeen’s first batch of BEd programme starts teaching after graduation

To make the teaching sector better and more dignified in Sindh, Durbeen has started special initiatives under which the first batch of the four-year BEd programme has graduated and started teaching.

This batch of 25 students was trained by teachers from national and international universities, who developed a special Singaporean-style curriculum for them.

These new teachers are being paid the same salary that government teachers are given and will also be admitted to the newly launched Masters of Science in Teachers Education Development Programme under Durbeen, the curriculum of which is being developed in collaboration with the University of Oxford. The programme is expected to start from August next year.

These views were expressed by Salma Ahmed Alam, chief executive officer of Durbeen, in a special conversation with a Daily Jang panel. On this occasion, Umeer Khan, a graduate of Howard University, and Mehek Fayaz, the first graduate of Durbeen, were also presented.

Salma Ahmed Alam said that we have to introduce teaching like doctors and engineering professions in which we have got initial success. She said that Durbeen was started from the same school of Zindagi Trust. In 2015-16, it was felt that pre-teaching teacher training was necessary for which the Singapore pattern was adopted and started teaching the same style within its parameters.

We started a four-year BEd programmne in which strict criteria were kept for admission, and out of 60 seats only 25 candidates were successful in getting admission by meeting the criteria in the first year. She said that thousands of applications are received for admission to 60 seats, but due to not meeting the criteria, even 60 seats cannot be filled. Last year also, ten seats were left.

She said that only women are admitted in our four-year programme. Our four-year programme admits only women, provides employment for three years after graduation, and pays them the same salary as that of government teachers. Laptops are also provided to them during education. She said that we want the youth to be attracted to the field of teaching quickly and this is our goal. We intend to create an institution that assigns credentials. Discussions are ongoing with the government in this regard.

Salma Ahmed Alam said research shows that good teaching is possible only in mother language and that is why we are teaching all the curriculum in our schools in the national language while also preparing the curriculum in the national language with the help of our teachers. She said that the education system in the country has been destroyed, highly educated teachers are difficult to find, so we are trying to make quality teachers. In this regard, through partnership with the government, the government can train the teachers. Besides, the Sindh government has already decided to give BA pass to teachers in grade 16, and that's why now the youth are attracted towards teaching.

She said that it is a pity that teachers in government schools retire every year, but the government recruits them after three years, whereas this recruitment should be done on merit every year so that government schools do not suffer from a shortage of teachers.

Ameer Khan said that he has done Masters in Education Policy from Howard University and teaches mathematics to teachers. He said that the BEd programme is getting very good talent and the talent is increasing with each batch. Durbeen is not just running a college, but is taking great steps to enhance its teaching and reputation. The entire curriculum of our college is Singapore-based and Singapore ranks first in education in Asia.

He said that we have skilled, competent and capable children coming from the public sector who are passed through various standards for education after which admission is given. There are 24 teachers to teach these students, and the best faculty are graduates from national and international institutes. We need qualified teachers at the level of schools as well as colleges and universities, but it is very difficult to find faculty.

Mahik Fayyaz said that till Matriculation and Inter, I only read and memorized books, but after coming to the BEd programme of Durbeen, I found out what study, education and training were. Now I am teaching mathematics to second grade children in Khatoon Pakistan Girls School. She said that skills development, learning, analytical and creative skills increased during the four-year BEd programme. My skills were polished. Their course is not easy; one has to work very hard. Compared to the first year, I felt a lot of changes in myself in the fourth year. With the increase in confidence comes a huge increase in speaking, reading and writing ability. Now I can proudly say that I am an academic writer because I wrote articles of 5 to 6 thousand words in my final year. She said that a lot of practice was conducted in the college, small things were taught and teachers at all levels were supportive. When discussing the problems with the teachers, there was never any disappointment, as they were always taught to solve them with encouragement.

College teachers knew and called every student by their name, which gave a good feeling. Every talk of the students was listened to and feedback was given. She expressed the wish that all the educational institutions in Pakistan should be like this, where teaching is done with respect and dignity, with such techniques that will sink into the hearts of the students.

She gave a message to the students that the field of teaching should not be taken for granted. A teacher reforms the entire society. Her work is not easy because she is using all of her skills at the same time. A teacher is highly respected in the society. She requested the parents not to oppose the employment of girls but to allow them to be taught.