'Educational institutions in Pakistan must inculcate a sense of intellectual curiosity'

Over 360 principals from all over Pakistan attend AKU-EB's annual principals' conference

KARACHI: Lifelong learning systems not only equip students with valuable tools for personal development, but also represent a holistic approach that affects educators, parents and entire communities.

This was stated by Aga Khan University - Examination Board (AKU-EB) Director Dr Shehzad Jeeva, while introducing the theme for this year's 'Principals' Conference' held in Karachi. The annual conference is organised by the AKU-EB in partnership with Oxford University Press (OUP).

"Our students face an increasingly globalised world, which emphasises a knowledge-based economy and multidisciplinary skills," said Dr Jeeva. "The challenge for educational institutions in Pakistan, therefore, is to inculcate a sense of intellectual curiosity and a passion for learning that goes beyond formal academic years," he said.



"It is not only students who need to evolve into lifelong learners - this is a pertinent need for all of us and, therefore, we require changes in the education system for teachers, parents, principals and communities to develop into enduring pupils," he added.

Former chair of the European Council of International Schools' (ECIS) English as a Second Language and Mother Tongue Committee, Eithine Gallagher delivered the keynote address, titled, 'Is Inspirational Pedagogy the Key to Preparing Children for Lifelong Learning?'

Noting the importance of maintaining a balance between mediums of instruction and mother languages, Gallagher said, "You can't turn off what you already know". She said children will learn a lot more if they are not forced to stop using their mother tongue. "When we tell children to think only in English or Urdu, it doesn't make any sense because we [should] think in all languages," she explained.



The conference, attended by over 360 principals from all over Pakistan, is the only event of its kind in the country that brings together a diverse group of school leaders on a single platform and showcases original classroom research. Thirty-one abstracts were presented on issues such as formative assessment in primary schools, case studies of educational institutions serving impoverished communities and the role of inquiry as a dynamic teaching and learning approach.

Short and inspiring TED-style talks, titled, 'Educators as Change Agents', were also delivered by AKU-EB Teacher Development Associate Director Aamna Pasha, Karachi Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship Founder Afaque Riaz Ahmed and Kiran Foundation Director Sabina Khatri.



"Mental and emotional health practices in the world of education are probably the most under looked and yet, the most integral components in transforming our society," Khatri said.

Pasha's talk focused on the importance of studying humanities for societal development. "Problems are never one-dimensional - they are always multifaceted. They require academicians from multiple disciplines to come together to address them and this is exactly what Pakistan needs," she said.

The 'Education for All - Vision 2030' panel saw leaders in Pakistani education like Baela Raza Jamil, Abbas Rashid and Irfan Muzaffar come together to discuss methods for inclusivity, high-quality education and lifelong learning in a local context. The role of the private sector in driving education for all, the pros and cons of technology as a cost effective means to expand access to quality education and the role of language in education, particularly English as a medium of instruction, was discussed.



OUP Pakistan Managing Director Ameena Saiyid presented the closing note. "The quantum and quality of education affects all aspects of human life - employment possibilities, economic performance, quality of life, social relationships, quality of thought and even the value of leisure," she said.

It [quantum and quality of education] is central to the single most important sector of societal activity, on which so much else hinges, she said, adding that AKU-EB's contribution to education in Pakistan thus makes it significant as it affects every part of society in Pakistan.