Calling all teachers: Nationwide competition looks for innovative ideas

Teach for Pakistan, Ilm Ideas launch 'Taleemi Jiddat ki Talaash' on Tuesday.

KARACHI: A nationwide competition for innovative teaching ideas and a better education system in Pakistan was launched by Teach for Pakistan and Ilm ideas on Tuesday.

The competition, 'Taleemi Jiddat ki Talaash', aims to identify the best innovations that require little to no costs from schools across the country, such as brain development through puzzles or class management through table manners. "The nationwide competition is the first of its kind in Pakistan," said its project director, Derek J Langford.

The competition kicked off on Tuesday and all applications can be submitted till February 27, said Langford. The standing committee of Teach for Pakistan will shortlist the innovations or micro innovations, and will investigate the selected ideas by going to the schools to make sure whether or not these innovations are being implemented.

The teachers submitting the innovations will also suggest the unique solutions to solve the problems their students are facing. "The guidebook, which will be a result of this competition, will help the teacher develop a child into a creative person," said Langford. "All the teachers who are teaching at any registered government or private schools are eligible for the competition," he added.

"Taleemi Jiddat ki Talaash is to inspire teachers throughout the country to get creative," said Teach for Pakistan's chief operating officer Noor Masood. Teachers are encouraged to submit their best and most innovative in-class practices. Masood said that students believed in them because their teachers believed in them.

Teach for Pakistan's standing committee member Shazia Kamal, who is also the head of education at The Citizens Foundation, also spoke to the teachers gathered at the launch. The notion to work for building creativity in the minds of our children is what we need for this country, she said. "Students see school as the root of learning, and if school helps them improve their gross motor skills then the results can be unbelievable," she added.

She narrated the story of a female student from Khushab in the Punjab, who was inspired by her teacher to become a software engineer because her teacher held a puzzle contest in the classroom twice a week.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 28^th, 2015.