Empowering educators of tomorrow through cross-cultural academic exchange

Islamabad

Forty secondary school teachers are set to depart Pakistan for the United States on the Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Programme. These government school English language teachers, who were selected through a competitive process, will have the opportunity to enhance their English teaching skills through this six-week intensive programme.

“Past participants in the TEA Programme have learned from each other, as well as from new American friends and colleagues. We have high hopes for this year’s participants, that they will make lasting connections to benefit their students and schools throughout Pakistan for years to come,” said Ms. Jen MacArthur, the US Embassy’s Regional English Language Officer, during the Pre-Departure Orientation organised by the United States Educational Foundation in Pakistan (USEFP).

“The TEA Programme prepares teachers to serve as leaders and education champions in their communities when they return to Pakistan and share their newly acquired knowledge with their peers and students,” USEFP Executive Director Ms. Rita Akhtar added.

This year, 40 teachers representing every region of Pakistan were selected to participate in the TEA programme. They will spend a week in Washington, D.C., where they will meet US government representatives. This will be followed by a five-week collaborative training programme at select US universities, where the teachers will learn the latest techniques in teaching methodology.

The TEA Programme in Pakistan, sponsored by the US Department of State, has sent more than 150 Pakistani teachers to the United States since 2012. The programme has been designed to build on teachers’ existing expertise and equip them with a better understanding of lesson planning, methodology, and the use of technology in teaching. Programme participants develop these proficiencies, while also learning about diversity and culture in the United States.

The Regional English Language Office of the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Islamabad implements a wide variety of programmes both in Pakistan and through educational exchanges.