TRC News

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!

It was a pleasure to welcome the UNICEF Education team to TRC, on Thursday May 22, 2008. The team of Education Officers (about 18 in number) from Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab and Islamabad, were accompanied by Ms. Perseveranda So, Chief Education Section, Islamabad.

About the purpose of the visit, Shahla R. Din, Education Specialist, Karachi, wrote in her
e-mail:  ” The purpose of our visit is to have an orientation on ECE – or ECD, and see/understand different approaches being taken for adaptation and replication in different provinces.  We feel that ECE is a very important investment in children’s futures – and would like to learn from your experience.”

At TRC, they explored the range of teaching-learning resources we have developed. They purchased sets of all our teachers’ guides, videos and our new interactive CD-ROM “Nurturing Creativity” … we gave them sets of our research publications and the new UNESCO supported ECE advocacy booklet for decision makers. They were particularly excited when they saw all the creative literacy, numeracy and science resources and ideas for 3 – 5 and 6 – 8 year olds, developed from “junk material” (old boxes, packing material, bottles and caps and other house hold recyclable materials). Perseveranda had seen similar material many years ago in the Phillipines and was really pleased to see what we have done with junk.
After telling them TRC’s ” Story of ECE” from 1986 to the formalisation of the National ECE Curriculum and beyond, we set out to visit The ECE Centre managed by the Local Body Wing Education Department, in Liaquatabad. There were very few children that day, because it was exam time/end of term and the little ones had gone home with older siblings in nearby schools. The visitors sat on the mat and at the little tables and chatted with the children. One little girl asked Perseveranda how she had come here … was it on a plane? One of the Officers from Punjab was given tea by a little group who were in the Home Corner and then they cooked some rice and chicken for him. It was such a joy for everyone to allow the child within, to step out for a while 🙂

On 21 May 2008, a group of ten teachers from the Metropolitan Foundation School visited TRC. One of our representatives introduced them to the activities and services offered by TRC to its members. They were given a tour of the TRC premises and expressed a keen interest in the TRC-Institute of Early Childood Education, its Media Literacy Programme, Learning Resources and Publications. The learning materials and resources were displayed in the TRC library where the teachers also explored and used the Learning CD on Nurturing Creativity in Young Children.
Each teacher in the group was given copies of the bi-annual resource Ilm o Amal and brochures highlighting TRC’s work. The group showed a keen interest in becoming members of TRC and left with a feeling of being inspired and encouraged to better themselves as teachers.

February 07, 2008 marked the end of another successful academic year for the students of the TRC-Institute of ECE (TRC – IECE). With assignments, tasks and final evaluations over and done with, our students were relieved but also felt at a bit of a loss. Accustomed to classes in the afternoon, straight after school, the intellectual stimulation and challenge of a year long programme in ECE, they were concerned that their learning curves would reach a plateau. So, they have formed an alumni group that meets once a month at the TRC-IECE to discuss ECE issues and work on small projects under the supervision of the Academic Coordinator.
On the evening of May 09, at a simple ceremony, Ms. Mahtab Rashdi, Chairperson of the TRC – IECE awarded certificates to the graduating students, as their parents, some siblings and school heads looked on with pride. Three students shared reflections of their year at IECE, and how the ECE programme had changed their perceptions of teaching, learning and childhood.

Mr. Lila Ram, Senior Manager Research and Advocacy presented an academic paper at a two-day International Conference on Embedding Quality Education for All-District Initiatives across Pakistan held on 5-6 March 2008 at Faisalabad.
Mr. Ram’s paper on “Evidence-Based Policy in Education: Issues and Challenges in Pakistan” reflected on the reasons for the gap between research and policy and highlighted the issues and challenges of this field. In this context, the paper also touched on TRC’s experiences of policy dialogue and public-private partnerships in education. Mr. Ram concluded that the challenges for Evidence-Based Policy in education are related to the lack of realization about the importance of scientific evidence, political agendas and the lack of effective mechanisms to ensure the use of evidence, effective dissemination of research findings and the quality and relevance of evidence.

The conference was organized by the Strategic Policy Unit, City District Government Faisalabad. The objective of the conference was, to provide a platform for sharing experiences and positive practices with respect to quality education and to promote networking opportunities for stakeholders, policy makers and researchers on decentralized initiatives in education. At the conference, speakers shared their views, ideas and experiences under the three main themes of the conference: 1) Whole School Development, 2) Public Private Partnerships and 3) Evidence Based Planning. Educators from Pakistan, South Asia, USA and UK participated in this conference.

10 March 2008: The PTB is considered an invaluable learning resource by all the ECE teachers who currently use it, in public sector schools across Pakistan. The PTB first launched in 1999, is undergoing a thorough review; all the contents and design of the Basta are being updated and it is hoped that the improved bag will be of even greater value to its users. It is expected that the new Bastas will be available for sale by the end of this year.
A colleague and friend of TRC recently wrote about the TRC-Institute of ECE; the ECE-CP and the PTB:
” Congratulations on the excellent work you are doing. This is wonderful news indeed!  I still remember the Taleemi Basta and think it is one of the best examples of an ECCD kit I’ve seen.  I wish I’d bought one when I was in Pakistan.”

Hania Kamel, Ph.D
International ECD Specialist

On 8 February 2008, a delegation from Punjab led by Ms. Baela Raza Jamil, Chairperson, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) and EDO Education, Faisalabad visited TRC. The visiting delegation consisted of 11 educationists from the Institute of Learning, District Education Office and Strategic Policy Unit, City District Government Faisalabad and ITA.

TRC’s representative made a formal presentation on the philosophy, activities and experiences of the organisation. The main thrust of the discussion was concerned with TRC’s experiences in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) over the years, because the prime objective of the visit was to gain insights into PPP experiences. The group members were inspired by TRC’s policy dialogue regarding the National ECE Curriculum.

The group was then shown the library and TRC’s learning resources. They showed a keen interest in TRC’s materials. They were given a copy of our latest issue of Ilm o Amal and two research studies namely a KAP Study on Childrearing Practices and The Story of School Improvement. The group members especially the EDO, Education and DOE (Women) Elementary Education showed their interest to work with TRC and intend to send a formal request to TRC in this regard.

The AGM scheduled for December, had to be delayed owing to the unfortunate violence experienced in our city and the ensuing political unrest and safety concerns in Karachi. The AGM was finally held on Saturday, 26th January 2008. This year was special because once again, it was Election Year for the Governing Body.

The AGM was a good opportunity for members to visit our new premises; we worked hard at creating a hospitable and warm environment for representatives from member schools and members of our Governing Body. In addition to the Directors, and Treasurer, members of the Training and Development Team gave attendees an update on TRC’s work during the reporting period; July 2006 – June 2007. Members expressed their appreciation and support for the work that TRC has carried out over the years. Five new GB members replaced the outgoing members in an unopposed election. After the meeting was concluded, refreshments were served and members were given a tour of the new premises. Hot soup, on this cold afternoon, was a very welcome addition to the menu.