The Hussainabad teachers training college’s inaugural class comprising 24 female students graduated with four-year Bachelor of Education (BEd) degrees on Saturday. This was the first batch of students since the Government Elementary College of Education (GECE) Hussainabad was adopted by the non-profit education organisation Durbeen in 2019.
The convocation was held on the college premises, with Sindh caretaker chief minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar presiding over as the chief guest of the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Durbeen Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salma Alam said that the public-private partnership project was launched to provide all children a high quality of education, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
During her speech she said that many people in the government wanted this teachers’ education programme to fail, yet with the commitment of supporters and donors the project had finally become a success.
She said that the project was fully financed by the private sector, and the decision to not take government funds was made in view of the allegations being levelled against the project.
She explained that it was termed a conspiracy to acquire government land on cheaper rates, which also prompted the then chief justice of the country in 2018 to order an inquiry into the project. “Given the judicial climate of that time, the inquiry from that chief justice was as good as a guilty verdict.”
Speaking of the programme, she said that teachers education was the missing piece of the whole education enterprise in Pakistan, and Durbeen assessed that the country would never be able to elevate its education system without professionally trained teachers.
She also said that the BEd curriculum was designed in collaboration with the University of Helsinki in Finland, while the degree programme was affiliated with the University of Karachi, which did 60 per cent of the assessment work.
“Our hard work and advocacy over the past few years has resulted in the culmination of some very important initiatives. Firstly, the teachers licensing test, which is scheduled for later this month,” she added.
“This licence is being introduced for the first time in Pakistan. The policy is a beautiful example of what happens when the public and private sector come together and collaborate.”
The Durbeen CEO said that under this policy, only BEd graduates would be eligible to take the licensing test, and if they are successful they would be appointed as government schoolteachers at grade 16, whereas previously all new teachers were appointed at grade 14.
“We are hopeful that it will provide incentives to the best and righteous in the youth to join the teaching profession. The second big initiative is an upcoming graduate project which is being designed in collaboration with the University of Oxford to develop teacher educators for all of Pakistan’s teacher education institutions. The programme is expected to be launched in the fall of 2025.”
Baqar said that teaching gave rise to all other professions, and it was the backbone of any nation. “The strength of the teaching workforce leads to a nation’s sustainable development. Thus, these graduates exemplify the potential to shape the future and elevate our society.”
He said that government schools symbolised the power of the pen, where all students were provided with equal opportunities to enable a social upward mobility. “Choosing to teach in government schools underscores dedication to uplift society. Given the competency of the present alumni of this training college, I am pleased to mention that after acquiring teaching licences, all graduates will become qualified to become government teachers.”
He said that in the face of challenges, including brain drain and social disparities, it was crucial to instil a sense of purpose beyond personal successes.
“The graduates must embrace the idols of nation-building, contributing to a large cause and shouldering the responsibility of social change. May your impact resonate far beyond these walls, shaping the destiny of our nation.”
In conclusion he mentioned Robert Frost’s verses: “The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
KU Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi advised the graduating students to respect their parents and teachers for supporting them in acquiring education. He said that educational institutions were nothing without faculty members because they were the real pillars of any institution serving society.
Speaking to the graduating students, he said that this was the beginning of their new journey to serve their communities and pay back to society because whatever position one had today was given to them by society. “I consider education not an expenditure but an investment in the future.”
Referring to the term “level playing field” being used by many politicians in reference to the upcoming general elections, the KU VC said that the government’s role in education is to provide a level playing field to everyone. He lamented that education is not the priority in the country.
“We cannot produce impact in our society without providing education to everyone and without continuity in our policy of education. Unfortunately, a debate occurs after every five years when a new government comes into power, discussing a national curriculum. If we consider Pakistan a federal society, then I don’t see a national curriculum for the country.”
Iraqi opined that education was about diversity, and Pakistan was a pluralistic society. He stressed on building institutions because they were important in delivering to the masses and putting the country on the path of progress.
He said the KU was a progressive and liberal university, where the faculty and administration championed only one cause, that is quality education. “It is only education which can uplift society.”
