Teachers’ conference: Teachers advised not to train students like animals

Instead, urge students to think critically.

ISLAMABAD:

Mastering the five dimensions of teaching and learning -- connect, collaborate, communicate, critical thinking and creativity -- will help teachers teach better.

This was said by Dr Cusrow J Dubash, Dean of Faculty of Education Forman Christian College in Lahore. He used the analogy of animal training. Children should not be trained like animals, who end up performing tricks. In other words, they should not be trained to mirror learnt behaviour and instead be encouraged to think critically.

Dr Moiz Hussain, Founder First Yoga Institute in Pakistan, stressed about the power of the mind and how teachers can employ positive thinking techniques in their teachings. He discussed the importance of empowerment strategies that empower students by empowering their teachers.

Teacher’s Development Centre Director and conference trainer Abbas Husain said that one of the goals of the conference is “to convince educators of the value of passion in classrooms, where teachers [can] dissolve student disinterest not with tricks but rather with an authentic commitment to what and who they are teaching.”

Scholarship for Malala

Malala Yousafzai, awarded the first National Peace Award for championing girls’ right to education in Swat, was given Rs3 million for her studies. The scholarship will cover her education costs at Roots from grade 9 to an external international programme with the University of London. Malala is also the first Pakistani girl to be nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize.

On the occasion, Malala gave an account of her BBC diary that she wrote under a pseudonym (and which made her famous), the better situation in her town and her appreciation for the scholarship. A number of attendees got teary-eyed on the emotionally-charged speech.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2012.