Encouraging critical thinking: It is impossible to grow without questioning, says Dutch diplomat
Lauds teachers’ role in helping invoke critical thinking among children
Participants hold a discussion at the closing ceremony of the collaborative workshops. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Teachers are that part of the community who can help raise and provide critical thinking skills to children, Dutch First Secretary Political Affairs Nanna Stoltz said on Sunday.
Nanna Stoltz stressed that without the ability to ask critical questions, it was impossible for a society to advance, progress, and evolve.
“In the Netherlands, we have this quote that it takes a village to raise a child. The idea of teachers being a gatekeeper [of the future] intersects nicely with this idea,” the diplomat said at the closing ceremony of the Pakistan Centre of Excellence (PACE)’s third round of collaborative workshops – a four-day residential training programme.
The discussion themed around rule of law, tolerance, diversity, fundamental human rights, equal citizenry, democracy and governance, and the scientific need to question the narratives we are given.
Participants praised the initiative, and said that they were inspired by the pluralistic ideas propagated by the initiative.
“I am a teacher, and I always thought I was sufficiently aware,” said Dr Ali, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Karachi.
“But now I feel a change inside, there is so much I have to learn, so many positive things I have to teach my students. We have our work cut out for us.”
The Center for Research and Security Studies Executive-Director, Imtiaz Gul, said that it was important to inculcate critical thinking in our youth, and to equip them with the art of questioning the narratives they had been given.
He said that teachers were gatekeepers of our future, and had the ability to shape an entire generation’s mindset to propagate tolerance, diversity and equality.
The resource persons and public intellectuals who interacted with the participating university lecturers and professors from different educational institutes across Pakistan included Dr Zubair Iqbal, Sara Farid, and noted academic and peace activist Dr AH Nayyar.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2016.
Teachers are that part of the community who can help raise and provide critical thinking skills to children, Dutch First Secretary Political Affairs Nanna Stoltz said on Sunday.
Nanna Stoltz stressed that without the ability to ask critical questions, it was impossible for a society to advance, progress, and evolve.
“In the Netherlands, we have this quote that it takes a village to raise a child. The idea of teachers being a gatekeeper [of the future] intersects nicely with this idea,” the diplomat said at the closing ceremony of the Pakistan Centre of Excellence (PACE)’s third round of collaborative workshops – a four-day residential training programme.
The discussion themed around rule of law, tolerance, diversity, fundamental human rights, equal citizenry, democracy and governance, and the scientific need to question the narratives we are given.
Participants praised the initiative, and said that they were inspired by the pluralistic ideas propagated by the initiative.
“I am a teacher, and I always thought I was sufficiently aware,” said Dr Ali, Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Karachi.
“But now I feel a change inside, there is so much I have to learn, so many positive things I have to teach my students. We have our work cut out for us.”
The Center for Research and Security Studies Executive-Director, Imtiaz Gul, said that it was important to inculcate critical thinking in our youth, and to equip them with the art of questioning the narratives they had been given.
He said that teachers were gatekeepers of our future, and had the ability to shape an entire generation’s mindset to propagate tolerance, diversity and equality.
The resource persons and public intellectuals who interacted with the participating university lecturers and professors from different educational institutes across Pakistan included Dr Zubair Iqbal, Sara Farid, and noted academic and peace activist Dr AH Nayyar.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 16th, 2016.