Author Archives: Teachers' Resource Centre

04 June, 2009
Bushra Khan and Dr. Bilal Iqbal Avan from the Department of Psychology, University of Karachi and Department of Psychiatry, Oxford University, U.K. respectively, are conducting a study about the behaviour challenges of children aged 11 to 12.

The purpose of this research is to identify the link between environmental factors, physical growth and children’s behaviour challenges. Behaviour challenges have been broadly defined as persistent maladaptive patterns of behaviour that interfere with a child’s daily life: socially, emotionally and academically.

Bushra Khan requested Mahenaz Mahmud of TRC, to be part of a small working group tasked with reviewing the Urdu translation of the data collection questionnaire. The working group met twice at TRC on May 15 and 20, 2009. TRC was also requested to facilitate the data collection from member schools. Saba Siddiq from TRC liaised with schools and Bushra Khan. The last data collection visit was made on June 03. A HUGE Thank You from TRC to all the schools, teachers, students and parents who participated in the study.

It is hoped that the findings of the study will help government authorities, community health workers, community service providers, schools and parents to understand the factors responsible for children’s behavioural problems and design programmes/strategies to enhance positive child development.

Bushra says: “Through the forum of TRC we will be happy to share the school level study findings and are also willing to provide support on the issue of child behaviour challenges.”

After several postponements due to the law and order situation in the country, the Annual TRC Fundraising event finally took place on Thursday, 30 April 2009, at the DHA Golf Club. The fashion show was presented by ‘Ensemble’, followed by dinner and a musical concert by Atif Aslam. The event was a great success in terms of arrangements and ambiance, as can be judged by the guests’ enjoyment and feedback. It is hoped that the proceeds of the event will provide some financial relief to TRC.

On April 29 and 30, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and UNICEF held a Training and Consultation Meeting to discuss Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) in Pakistan. The meeting was held at TRC on the insistence of the MoE and UNICEF, owing to TRC’s long-standing contributions to ECE, policy making and public-private collaborations. Members of various public and private organizations working in the field of education attended. From TRC, Amima Sayeed and Nida Alavi participated.

The intended purpose of ELDS is to formulate standards which can establish measurable objectives for the learning and development of children. A few months ago, representatives of the MoE and UNICEF traveled to Nepal to collaborate with regional stakeholders followed by meetings across Pakistan. ELDS, is a global initiative, currently being addressed at a regional level with country specific standards being drafted; these were discussed at the meeting.

Over the two days, facilitators of the ELDS initiative shared the background of ELDS and information about ECE policy, programmes and statistics in Pakistan. Their intention was also to engender more sensitivity and therefore advocacy for ECE. They also presented some basic information about the National Curriculum for ECE (which TRC was instrumental in authoring). Following some detail about the design and content of ELDS, on Day 2, participants were divided into groups and each group given a specific competency of the document to examine. Competency-specific comments were shared in a collective feedback session, with a brief concluding note from the facilitators on the future course of action for ELDS.

Unfortunately, proceedings were hampered by unrest in Karachi on April 29, which resulted in reduced attendance on April 30. However, the meeting did go on and one hopes that future public-private initiatives are not further jeopardized by the uncertain times we live in.

In response to a request from the Publican Alumni Trust, a 16-hour workshop was conducted by TRC’s Rubina Naqvi for the teachers of the F.G. Cantt. Boys and Girls’ Public Schools from 13 to 23 April, 2009. The training was spread over eight days from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The focus of the training was on the learning process, and effective teaching methodology. Issues related to managing classroom and students’ behaviour were also discussed during the training sessions. The teachers took keen interest and participated actively in all the discussions. A ceremony was held on the last day, where the TRC certificates as well as those of the Publican Alumni Trust, were given out by their office bearers. The feedback of the training was encouraging and the need for further training sessions was expressed by the management.

The Childens’ Museum for Peace and Human Rights requested TRC for the use of our premises to conduct a 3-hour workshop on Wednesday, 08 April, 2009. This training session was organized to launch their Peace Kit, as part of their activism programme. It was attended by 30 teachers from their member schools. TRC extended logistical support to help make this programme possible. A number of participants inquired about TRC’s membership and showed interest in the services rendered by TRC, as they were visiting TRC for the first time.

Ayesha Shaukat, Coordinator Education – Policy Advocacy and Knowledge Management Oxfam-GB Pakistan Programme visited TRC to understand its work in Education. Oxfam GB is currently planning and expanding its education programme; the geographic outreach includes Sindh. Ms. Shaukat was informed about TRC’s past and current initiatives of teacher development for the promotion of quality education, especially at the Early Childhood Education level.

A 12 member delegation from UNICEF Lahore and Ali Institute of Education visited TRC on April 2, 2009 to learn about TRC’s contribution, programmes and experience of working in Early Childhood Education (ECE). As part of UNICEF Punjab’s major 2009-10 plan, ECE is included as part of the Child Friendly School’s project (CFS). The special focus on ECE in CFS aims to demonstrate the significance of ECE focusing on kachi class children in 1800 government schools, and helping the Government of Punjab to own and sustain the process through the next long term five-year plan (2011-15). For this purpose, UNICEF organized an exposure visit for the CFS Project Team from the Ali Institute of Education to develop their understanding of ECE work done in Pakistan thus far. The delegation was briefed on the policy reforms for ECE that TRC has spearheaded since 1998. Moreover, information on various teacher development modules and learning materials developed for ECE improvement was shared with them.