Pakistan’s Examinations Services Director Hasan Khattak said the arrangement would ensure the availability of a global standard of assessments for employers and employees alike, thereby elevating quality and consistency of testing across various sectors in Pakistan.PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The MoU was signed between AJK Minister for School Education Iftikhar Ali Gilani, and British Council Chief Executive Officer Sir Ciaran Devane said a press release.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included AJK Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan AJK School Education Department Secretary Irshad Qureshi, British Council Pakistan Country Director Rosemary Hilhorst, British Council Education Director Nishat Riaz, and Pakistani High Commissioner in the UK Ibne Abbas.
Sir Ciaran said the British Council is honoured to support the Azad Jammu Kashmir government in their endeavours to provide better opportunities for their people. “For the last 70 years, our work has continued to expand in Pakistan which is a testament to the long-standing relationship between the two countries and our peoples. Together we can work to build a bright future for the citizens of Pakistan and the UK, through mutual understanding and cooperation between institutions and individuals. I am very proud that we at the British Council will play our part in that.”
AJK PM Khan expressed his gratitude to the British Department of Education and the British Council for inviting delegates from the state to attend the Education World Forum 2017. He expressed his appreciation on the MOU signing and believes that an understanding with the British Council will help teachers enhance their skills and expertise.
He further added that the UK is the second home for Kashmiris since a large number of them have settled on the islands. He referred to the vital role of the British Council and commonwealth for their contribution in the provision of multi-layered scholarship programmes benefitting the people of Kashmir.
The British Council under the MoU will adopt its existing programmes to the context of Kashmir through UK expertise. These include training programmes for teachers, principals of public sector schools and entrepreneurs, revitalization of the International Resource Centre (IRC) and support in Information Communication and Technology. The British Council will also work with the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for institutional capacity building in the areas of monitoring and evaluation, performance management, creating entrepreneurship opportunities, vocational counselling, job placement, and land use planning.
The British Council’s collaboration with the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir in these sectors will provide vital support to build a stronger and brighter future for the people of Kashmir.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 25th, 2017.
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