USAID TEACHER EDUCATION PROJECT REPORT ON 2nd NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE INTERCHANGE

In line with the National Education Policy 2009, HEC and provincial governments have taken the bold decision to reform pre-service teacher education. Central to the reform is the introduction of the four-year B.Ed. (Hons.) Elementary degree and the two-year Associate Degree in Education (ADE). Since the decision was made to introduce the new programs, significant progress has been made and as of January 2012, approximately 45 colleges and 12 universities are offering the B.Ed (Hons.) and ADE. The two-day National Interchange provided an update on the accomplishments of the project and focused on the strategies and policy initiatives needed to institutionalize the reforms of teacher education over the remaining life of the project and beyond. It also provided an opportunity to refine the work plan collaboratively with our partners. The Interchange was attended by more than 80 senior officials of provincial departments of education (DOE) and their teacher education apex bodies, representatives of the Higher Education Commission, Vice-Chancellors and Deans of partner universities, federal Secretary - Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), and provincial Secretaries of Education. In December 2011, prior to the Interchange, the LOP Work Plan was shared with the provincial Steering and Advisory Committees for detailed review, discussion and feedback. The purpose of these consultations was to ensure that the LOP meets the provincial strategic priorities for implementing teacher education reforms. The agenda on the opening day of the Interchange was highlighted by a number of presentations. The Chief of Party Dr. Mahmood ul Hasan Butt reported on the significant achievements during the first three years of Pre-STEP and the tasks ahead during the remaining life of the project. Dr. Samina Qadir, Vice-Chancellor at Fatima Jinnah Women University shared her views about USAID's Teacher Education Project and the support it has provided her University to implement the new four-year degree program. Ms. Salma Nazar - a USAID-sponsored student enrolled in the doctoral program at the Center for International Education, University of Massachusetts - shared her reflections on the opportunities provided to her through a USAID-funded scholarship to further develop knowledge and research skills. A short video was also shared documenting the teaching/learning skills of students currently enrolled in the Associate Degree in Education (ADE) program. Ms. Jo Lessor-Oltheten, Director of the Office of Education at USAID, addressed the Interchange and lauded the achievements of the project so far. Ms. Lessor assured continued support from USAID for programs to improve the quality of basic education in Pakistan. The second day of the interchange began with an introduction and overview of the agenda by Dr Butt, the project Chief of Party and opening remarks by Mr. Tariq Khan, Education Advisor at USAID. The Director Curriculum, Ms Rana Hussain and the Advisor Policy, Dr Fayyaz Ahmed, then presented a brief overview of the Life of Project work plan to set the stage for discussions that followed. Working in provincial and area groups, participants discussed the work plan. While a set of questions was shared with each group to prompt discussion, groups were encouraged to discuss the aspects of the plan that interested them most, and to consider their role in its implementation. Each group was invited to generate and present their recommendations for the work plan and for institutionalizing and strengthening the teacher education reform efforts in their province. After lunch, questions were invited on the presentations and then Dr. Mary Lackie, Senior Technical Director Pre-STEP, presented a quick synthesis of the presentations and identified common themes. Dr Lackie explained that the presentations would be reviewed in more detail to ensure that recommendations are included in the work plan. In the next session, participants were invited to join one of four concurrent discussion groups. Each group was asked to discuss one of the following issues and to make recommendations to plenary (and to Pre-STEP) for action: Assessment in the ADE and B.Ed. (Hons.) Elementary, Affiliation of colleges with the universities, and Teacher Education Development Authority (TEDA) and its role in teacher education reform.