Divisional level: Govt to set up college teachers’ training schools

Programme aimed at sensitising and educating teachers about latest teaching methods.

LAHORE: The Punjab government is working on an institutionalised mechanism for capacity building of college teachers through training by setting up training institutions at divisional level.

The plan aims at sensitising and educating teachers about latest teaching methods and would benefit the faculty of 721 public-sector colleges. More than 28,000 lecturers of colleges are likely to benefit from this programme.

Punjab Higher Education Minister Syed Raza Ali Gillani said this while presiding over a meeting at the Forman Christian College University (FCCU) on Sunday, where participants pondered over the teachers’ training programme for capacity-building of college teachers in the province.

Gillani said an institutional mechanism of college teachers’ capacity building would be established.

While discussing the concept of teachers training, he said different steps had been taken to elevate the standards of higher education.

“Colleges would be given funds in the next budget to provide different facilities, including IT labs to their students,” he added. “Capacity-building of teachers will ultimately benefit the students who would get quality education”.

The minister said the programme would help teachers learn new concepts and ideas in their subjects. The teachers training programme would be continuous so they could improve their professional competence and skills.

Gillani said universities would be encouraged to act as engines of research and innovation, where top-of-the-line research facilities would renew the intellect of the students.

“Instead of increasing the number of jobless educated youth, we want our institutions should develop best trained professionals, who can lead the country in different fields,” the minister added.

Forman’s Dr Cusrow J Dubash briefed the participants about the concept of teachers training at the meeting also.

The meeting was attended by Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC) Chairman Dr Nizamuddin, Higher Education Department (HED) Special Secretary Tahir Yousaf, Forman college Registrar Dr Hamid Saeed and officials of higher education department.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 10^th, 2017.