TRC News

Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on whether writing letters is an outdated mode of communication, and cast your vote by the end of May 2015.
As you know …

your opinion counts

Our April 2015 poll was about teaching ‘both sides’ of historical events:

It is important to teach ‘both sides’ of historical events, even when it shows your country in a negative light, in order to have thoughtful and productive discussions about complex issues.

• I agree. A balanced look at the country’s history may make many uncomfortable. However, discomfort and cognitive conflict is key to developing critical thinking skills in future generations. (96%, 45 Votes)

• I disagree. Discussing complex issues may bring accusations against teachers of promoting a political agenda, which they may not be able or ready to handle. (4%, 2 Votes)

The overwhelming majority of those who responded to this poll (96%) think that it is important to present and teach a balanced view of the country’s history. These respondents feel that this is important, even if one’s country is seen in a negative light and it causes discomfort and cognitive conflict amongst the students. On the other hand, only a very small minority of the respondents (4%) believe that teachers should not be discussing complex historical issues in the classroom, as neither the teacher nor the students may be equipped to handle them.

During the quarter, TRC successfully completed the training of 400 teachers from 16 districts of Sindh on ECE. Two TRC staff members presented the Thinking Classroom project at the CIES Conference in Washington DC. This was made possible through support from Open Society Foundations. Our work in Sehwan schools via PSSP marked its 2nd year into implementation. Back to back annual data collection exercises were carried out by the team for gathering feedback from beneficiaries. An interactive session on school safety issues was organised for member and non member schools and was well received. TRC held its 28th Annual General Meeting and elected a new Governing Body for the next three years. An Open Day was organised for interested and prospective students to help them understand the IECE programme better and get enrolled.

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Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on teaching historical events (in school) that show your country in a negative light, and cast your vote by the end of April 2015. As you know …

your opinion counts

Our March 2015 poll was about whether older students should be given the opportunity to evaluate their teachers:

Older students should be entitled to evaluate their teachers. They spend the most time with them and are directly impacted by their skills and abilities.

• I agree. A student’s evaluation would add a critical perspective to a teacher’s evaluation and help with improvement in teaching methods and communication with students. (78%, 36 Votes)

• I disagree. Students should not evaluate teachers. They’re likely to be biased towards teachers who give good grades and may not have the foresight to recognise an effective teacher. (22%, 10 Votes)

The majority of those who responded to this poll (78%) agree that older students should be able to evaluate their teachers. These respondents felt that since students spend so much of their time with their teachers, their evaluation will not only help the teacher improve her teaching methods, but will also enhance her communication with students.

On the other hand, only 22% of the respondents believe that students should not evaluate teachers as they lack the foresight to recognise an effective teacher and are more likely to biased towards teachers who hand out good grades easily.

Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on whether older students should be allowed to evaluate their teachers, and cast your vote by the end of March 2015. As you know …

your opinion counts

Our February 2015 poll was about whether being constantly connected to technology enhances children’s creativity or reduces it:

Constantly being connected to some form of technology leads to information overload, which impedes a child’s ability to think and be creative.

• I agree. The convenience of technology has reduced our children’s ability to think independently and be creative. Children would be more creative if they were not always ‘connected’. (51%, 19 Votes)

• I disagree. Technology is a tool and to use it properly we need to apply both imagination and creativity. In the right hands technology enhances creativity. (49%, 18 Votes)

The result of this poll was split down the middle, with those who agree with the premise ‘winning’ only by a single vote. Half of the respondents believe that being connected to technology impedes children’s ability to think and be creative. They believe that children would be more creative if they weren’t always ‘connected’. The remaining respondents (49%) disagree with the premise and believe that if used properly technology actually enhances creativity.

Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on the effects of being connected to technology all the time, and cast your vote by the end of February 2015. As you know …

your opinion counts

Our January 2015 poll was about whether schools should relax strict hairstyle and uniform rules:

Schools should relax strict hairstyle and uniform rules and focus on more important things such as educating children well and helping them reach their full potential.

• I agree. When schools enforce strict hairstyle and uniform rules, they create negative energy, teach children to dislike the system and waste valuable teaching and learning time. (55%, 22 Votes)

• I disagree. Dress codes are an important part of the workforce that students will be part of one day. A strict uniform policy will help them understand this. (45%, 18 Votes)

Total Voters: 40

The result of this opinion poll was neck and neck. The majority (55%) of those who responded to this poll felt that when schools enforce strict hairstyles and uniform rules, children end up disliking the system and end up wasting valuable time. These respondents feel that this generally creates negative energy in schools. On the other hand, a significant minority (45%) of respondents feel that strict uniform and hairstyle rules are a way to introduce children to dress codes which will be important once they enter the workforce.

The highlights of the quarter include continuation of our core activities as well as planning for the Annual General Meeting and finalisation and on line publishing of TRC’s 28th Annual Report. A short term project with financial support of UNICEF, was initiated with PITE, Sindh for training 400 government teachers on ECE. A partnership with The Citizens Foundation was also established; TCF purchased our PTBs for the schools they support financially and technically through their SDU. Training of teachers from these schools was also held at TRC. The 4th Karachi International Children’s Festival was held and saw atleast 5000 children and teachers coming together for viewing the 58 films which were showcased this time.

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TRC’s 28th Annual Report published.

Download Annual Report

Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on strict hairstyle and uniform rules in schools, and cast your vote by the end of January 2015. As you know …

your opinion counts

Our December 2014 poll was about whether libraries are losing their relevance as a resource for information:

In a world that is fast becoming connected via the Internet, school libraries are slowly losing their relevance as a resource for information.

• I agree. Maintaining a school library is expensive, and its function is becoming obsolete in the face of search engines that can quickly locate large amounts of information. (39%, 14 Votes)

• I disagree. The Internet is not a reliable resource and libraries are more than stores for books. They are spaces for study and reflection that will adapt to modern demands. (61%, 22 Votes)

Total Voters: 36

The majority of those who responded to this poll (61%) do not think that libraries will lose their relevance in a highly connected modern world. These respondents feel that libraries will adapt to the demands of the modern world and also believe that the internet is not a reliable source of information. On the other hand 39% of the respondents believe that libraries are becoming obsolete, because people now have access to a lot of information online through search engines.

Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on whether school libraries are losing their relevance, and cast your vote by the end of December 2014. As you know …

your opinion counts

Our November 2014 poll was about whether singing the national anthem is a necessary school ritual:

Singing the national anthem has been a longstanding tradition at many educational institutions and is an important part of promoting patriotism.

• I agree. Singing the national anthem is a necessary school ritual as it instills a sense of unity in a diverse society frequently at odds with itself. (61%, 49 Votes)

• I disagree. Singing the national anthem, which very few people understand, promotes unthinking loyalty. Teaching history and marking Independence Day with meaningful activities is of more consequence. (39%, 31 Votes)

Total Voters: 80

The majority of those who responded to this poll (61%) felt that the national anthem should be sung regularly in schools as it promotes patriotism. These respondents believe that singing the national anthem also promotes a sense of unity amongst students. On the other hand, a sizeable minority (39%) felt that teaching history and marking Independence Day with meaningful activities is more effective when it comes to inculcating patriotism.

Dear Readers, Please check out our new Opinion Poll on singing the national anthem in education institutions, and cast your vote by the end of November 2014. As you know …

your opinion counts

Our October 2014 poll was about getting students to read beyond the curriculum:

Reading books for entertainment is essential for a good education and all students should be required to read more and beyond the curriculum.

• I agree. It is vital that children be made to read widely, as it helps develop young minds and counterbalances unhealthy over exposure to the electronic media. (86%, 31 Votes)

• I disagree. When we force children to read books that they have no interest in or don’t like, we put them off reading for life. (14%, 5 Votes)

Total Voters: 36

A large majority of those who responded to this poll (86%) felt that making children read beyond the curriculum is essential to their development. These respondents believe that when children read widely outside of the prescribed curriculum it helps expand their minds and also counters unhealthy exposure to the electronic media. In contrast, a mere 14% of the respondents felt that forcing children to read books that they have no interest in puts them off reading for life.