From July 29 – August 01 2008, we conducted another 15-hour workshop for 26 Kindergarten teachers in Orangi. These teachers who work in schools supported by DIL (Development in Literacy), were very excited about learning to set up a child-friendly learning environment.

The workshop titled “Ibteda-e-Bachpan aur Khushgawar Taleemi Mahaul” addressed the following topics: What is a Learning Environment, Classroom Organisation, Learning Corners, Daily Routines, Non-Threatening Environments and the Teachers’ Role in an Early Years’Classroom.
Through brainstorming, group work, discussions and role-play teachers engaged in active learning. Some participants applied the themes of the workshop even further. “I gained a lot of self-confidence and had the opportunity to reflect on my own areas for development,” expressed one teacher.

We bid adieu to participants with the message that the right environment promotes feelings of well-being and as a result, the motivation to learn and focus.

Sixteen HANDS (Health and Nutrition Development Society) staff members benefited from a 45-hour Training of Trainers workshop titled “?Sarkari Schools Tabdeeli ki Janib Gamzan” from June 9-14, 2008. This workshop was requested by HANDS (an implementing partner) and conducted by TRC, in our role as technical assistance partner in the RNE (Royal Netherlands’ Embassy) supported RCC Project.

The workshop sought to equip participants with the skills to train primary schoolteachers with mathematics content and interactive teaching in classes 1 and II.

“Teaching methods were effectively communicated and we received complete support from the trainers,” asserted one participant. Four modules were taught incorporating the Meaningful Learning Environment, Pedagogy of Maths – Making Maths Fun, Classroom Assessments and Workshop Leading Skills.
Teachers responded enthusiastically to the variety of methods that were both discussed and applied through individual activities, games, case studies, lectures, role-plays and group work.

We received encouraging feedback from both participants and HANDS as they found the training extremely relevant for their schools and for the trainings they would conduct. The maths module was considered very valuable for field training.

On a related note, we have been contributing to the Releasing Confidence and Creativity (RCC) project through a variety of contributions since the project’s inception. RCC is a programme for Early Childhood Development (ECD) and focuses on supporting ECD practices and structures in communities, schools, NGOs and the government.

This summer, as soon as the school holidays started, the TRC-Institute of ECE conducted its first course for member schools. The course, titled ‘Active Learning’ ran from June 2 – 13 2008. A total of 20 participants, from 5 different private schools participated in this 10-day, 50 hour long course.

Over the 10 days, we discussed child development theories, research on brain development and the High/Scope approach to active learning. A major focus was to introduce teachers to the National Curriculum for ECE (MoE, GoP 2007); in groups they worked on activities to implement the six Key learning Areas, in their classrooms. They also learnt how to set up the learning environment for young active learners and how to observe, assess and support children’s development.

Through brainstorming, group work and discussions teachers understood the importance of active learning and Developmentally Appropriate Practices in the early years. Teachers responded enthusiastically to the variety of methods that were both discussed and applied through individual activities, games, case studies, lectures and role-play. All the participants were so enthused that they didn’t mind “working” during their summer break, and unanimously remarked that the 50 hours/10 days had flown by without them really noticing it!

We quote Rizwana, a participant from Head Start Clifton who came to TRC for an associate membership so that she could learn more:

” I attended the workshop on Active Learning in June 2008. I am a Montessori trained teacher and was applying the Montessori method on children earlier. After gaining knowledge about active learning, I felt more organized. Children are learning and working with materials with added interest through this approach. It is a good experience. Thank you TRC for making me a better equipped ECE teacher.”
We have good news for those who wish to attend this course. It will be repeated next year in June 2009.

On Monday 09 June, 2008, Mahenaz Mahmud was invited as chief guest to present certificates and shields to students who had completed their B.Ed and part of their M.Ed programmes. It was an informal event organised and managed by the graduating students. Student representatives shared reflections of their time at NDIE; the Director, Margaret Madden made a brief, inspiring speech and Mahenaz, after sharing a few thoughts, read out a story, ” Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss.

On Saturday, 31 May, we finally held the seminar we had been planning for such a long time, to share the findings of our ECE longitudinal research study. We had planned a two-day national seminar last year, but had to postpone when funding was withdrawn owing to imposition of emergency. It is ironic that we had presented this study in Reykjavi Iceland, at the European Early Childhood Education Research Association in 2006, and had to wait until 2008 to present in Pakistan.

We then waited for elections, so that elected members would be in place in the Education Department. We were so excited when the EDO, Ms. Fakhar Karim Siddiqui, who was the chief guest, agreed to give us her total support for a working group to promote quality ECE in the public sector.

Mr. Lila Ram representing TRC, presented the findings of the study; he was followed by Mr. Jesrani Manohar Lal, Director Literacy and Non-Formal Education Department who reported on successes and challenges of ECE in Sindh. Ms. Syeda Naushaba Muslim, ADOE, Gulberg Town shared her experiences in promoting and implementing ECE in her area, highlighting time constraints, logistics, a lack of appropriate tools, teacher turnover and limited skills in ECE, as challenges. Commenting on the promotion of ECE community involvement, Ms. Shamim Akhtar, elected representative/Chairperson of the Education Committee for Karachi, encouraged ECE leaders to seek out parents and other community leaders to promote awareness regarding ECE through engagement in preparation of materials, dialoguing with children and making institutional ideas accessible.

One of the highlights of the day, was a panel discussion involving some of the teachers who were part of the project. They discussed and answered questions enthusiastically, about how they went about implementing their learning from the workshops they attended at TRC. The challenges were many, but the positive responses from the children they worked with, their parents and all concerned spurred them on. They certainly succeeded in shattering the stereotypes of substandard education generally associated with government schools. The audience, consisting of stakeholders from the public and private sectors, were inspired by their energy and commitment.
You can download the report here: http://trconline.org/?cat=16
Update: It was not to be … two days later, Karachi had a new EDO Education!