Revamping standards: PEF approves two teacher training models

Training to commence in July

LAHORE: The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has been planning to impart teacher training to instructors across its partner schools under new models.

A circular issued by PEF Director Ayesha Nauman on Thursday said the foundation had also hired master trainers to train school teachers in a bid to ensure the provision of quality education to students. The School Leadership Programme (SLP) and the Teachers’ Development Programme (TDP) were the two models that had been introduced. Both models encompass two levels. Each SLP level has a four-day duration and has been introduced for headmasters and headmistresses. On the other hand, each TDP level has a five-day duration.

The circular disclosed that training under the models would commence in July with a large part of it being conducted over the summer vacations. Seasoned PEF staff would conduct the training. The trainees would also be provided adequate stipends. The foundation has been planning to select fitting partner schools where teachers would be trained. Teachers from schools in the pertinent cluster would be trained at the chosen sites.

The circular stated that those being trained would have to appear for a test conducted by a chosen firm for every level of training imparted in one to three months.

Testing centres would be established at the tehsil-level and the PEF would subsidise the fee of the first test. Only those who cleared the first level would progress to subsequent levels.

The circular said that the PEF would provide teachers who cleared the TDP with a one-time Rs5,000 honorarium. Similarly, teachers employed across partner schools would also be eligible for a Rs5,000 honorarium after serving for one year. This would be repeated every year.

The circular stated that partner schools would be categorised by the PEF in accordance with the number of certified teachers they possessed.

The inclusion of particulars of instructors, headmasters and headmistresses in the PEF’s Teachers’ Information System (TIS) has also been deemed mandatory.

The circular concluded by calling on partner schools to ensure the participation of their instructors, headmasters and headmistresses in the training to ensure that the programmes tasted success.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2016.