Author Archives: Teachers' Resource Centre

On 13 November 2008, we kicked off our Ed Links programme activities with a set of focus group discussions in Jamshoro, with students of Classes VI-VIII. These discussions are part of the process for the development of math and science learning material. The main purpose of talking with students was to understand their existing interests, issues and experiences in studying math and science in schools. It also helped in gauging their access to, and perceptions about, the use of technology for learning in and outside of school, on their own or with their peers and teachers.
Not surprisingly, of the 48 students in Jamshoro, not more than 12 had ever seen or touched a computer. The majority of these 12 were male students who were enrolled in a computer course after school or in very rare cases, had a computer at home. Some of the responses reflected very interesting perceptions about teaching and learning. For instance, almost 90% of the students said that they had not learnt anything of maths, science or technology on their own and asserted that unless there is a teacher, no learning can take place. After a few more probing questions, the students shared how they had figured out how to use mobile phones for text messaging and playing games. Examples of learning from TV channels, cricket, video games and finally each other were then shared.
During our discussions with teachers, they complained that there were too many units and exercises in the math and science textbooks, which made it hard for them to cover the syllabus. Three of the six teachers had recently attended math workshops but confessed that they had not applied anything in the classroom because of the large number of students and immense workload.We found the interaction very useful for determining the nature of the digital learning materials we will be developing. A few more focus group discussion are scheduled with students and teachers in Balochistan and in Karachi.

Standards and Early Childhood Education seem to have caught the fancy of many people in the education sector. One such exercise on standards is led by UNICEF and the Project Wing, Ministry of Education Government of Pakistan, and is part of a global initiative known as, “Early Learning and Development Standards”. Under this initiative, several countries in various regions have worked/are working to identify and establish early learning and development standards; these standards cover a wide range of children’s experiences from learning in the classroom to parenting at home.

The process started in the SAARC countries in September 2008, with a workshop in Nepal, organised by the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia. If you are interested, scroll down and read the news on ELDS Writing and Validation Workshop in Kathmandu.
From 11-12 November 2008, TRC, represented by Amima Sayeed, participated in an orientation workshop on ELDS in Islamabad. As Pakistan has hopped on to the ELDS caravan of countries and plans to focus on teaching and learning only, we at TRC feel that it is essential that instead of starting from scratch the ELDS builds on all the good work already undertaken for Early Childhood Education in Pakistan, and bridges some of the gaps in the current draft document.

Our colleague, Lila Ram decided it was time to move on and we fully respect his decision. He left TRC in November 2008, to join UNICEF Karachi. He spent eleven years with us at TRC, and learnt and grew with the organisation. He will be missed and we wish him all the best in the future.
Samira Rahimtoola, armed with an MBA (from the IBA, Karachi) in Finance, joined us in November 2008. She brings with her ten years of experience in various academic, administrative, co-ordination and HR related areas. She will help raise funds for TRC’s publications and events and take care of some of our HR related needs. As soon as her daughter is a little older and goes to school full time, Samira will be in a position to give more time to TRC. We welcome her and look forward to funding for Ilm o Amal at last!

The UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia organised a workshop titled”ELDS Writing and Validation Workshop” from 22-26 September 2008, in Kathmandu, Nepal. ELDS is the acronym for Early Learning and Development Standards. A wide range of participants from seven SAARC countries and Malaysia attended the workshop.
Pakistan was represented by the Ministry of Education (Projects Wing) and four civil society organisations including TRC. Lila Ram, was our representative.

The overall goal of the workshop was to facilitate the capacity to draft and edit the ELDS document and to facilitate the understanding of the ELDS validation model. Under a global initiative entitled “Going Global with Early Learning and Development Standards”, several countries are working to identify and establish standards which are culturally sensitive and appropriate for young children. The dimensions of ELDS are in line with the approach of a child’s holistic development.
Its good to know that ELDS is very much on the agenda of Pakistan’s Ministry of Education and that the National Curriculum for ECE will provide the basic framework for the ELDS.