In Jamshoro, this fisherman left his trade and got hooked on to teaching instead

US-funded teaching programme helped Imran change more lives.

ISLAMABAD: One day on the Indus River a fisherman decided to change his life.

Imran Ali Mallah had worked to make ends meet his entire life, working seven days a week in Jamshoro’s blistering heat and often coming home empty-handed.  Weary of the unpredictability of the fishing trade, and inspired by an advertisement he saw in the newspaper, Imran decided to become a teacher.

Imran had seen an advertisement for an Associate’s degree in Education Programme (ADE), an initiative of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) that provides training in modern teaching methods to new and experienced teachers.  More than 2,600 students are currently enrolled in the two-year ADE programme and the four-year bachelor’s of education created through USAID assistance and accredited by the Government of Pakistan. The organisation has also awarded nearly 1,000 scholarships for the two programmes.



This project works with the federal and provincial governments, the Higher Education Commission, the provincial departments of education, 15 universities, and 75 teacher colleges.

As soon as Imran committed himself to this new endeavour, he travelled four hours every day from his home in Jamshoro to the Provincial Institute of Teacher Education in Nawabshah to pursue his ambition of becoming a teacher. He received excellent grades, and completed the ADE programme with flying colours.

Today, Imran’s future looks secure.  Instead of toiling each day on his boat, he teaches young people, and hopes that they too will have the opportunity for a better future.  “Changing the mindset of the youth toward learning and success is very important for our country,” said Imran. “It enables personal growth and I hope to pass on this beacon of knowledge.”

Imran is highly grateful of the programme organisers. “The ADE programme has been a source of inspiration,” he said, adding that, “It enabled me to switch my profession from fishing to teaching.”

He also appreciated the advanced teaching methods that he has been utilising. “It has brought classrooms to life,” he said, adding that both teachers and students are now more open to change.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2012.