USAID to train 300 teachers at university

Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur is the fourth university selected by USAID.

SUKKUR: Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU), Khairpur is the fourth university selected by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that will set up an Institute of Education, which will be constructed by August 2012, to train teachers.

Vice-chancellor Dr Nilofer Shaikh presided over a meeting on Tuesday with a USAID Islamabad delegation. “The institute will be spread over 15,000 square feet and we commit to training 300 teachers,” said USAID representative Dr Basharat. Campus facilities will include six classrooms, learning resource centres, a library, laboratories, a cafeteria, a conference room and teacher offices. A four-year BEd programme will start at the department and eventually, a two-year Associate Diploma of Education programme will also start, said Dr Basharat.

USAID will provide basic equipment and classroom furniture, while the university will arrange for utilities, the operation and maintenance.

Dr Shaikh contributed a piece of land for the building. She stressed the need to strengthen teachers’ education at the university and said the proposal will be given to the academic council.

The institute will cater to teachers across upper Sindh and will provide new teaching trends and techniques, she added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2011.