OUP launches training programme for teachers

Thirty-five teachers will be trained in Karachi from June 9 till June 11

KARACHI: The Oxford University Press (OUP) has launched the Oxford Teachers Academy (OTA) in Pakistan — a one-of-its-kind teacher training and professional development programme.

The OTA will conduct an intensive, three-day training programme for 35 teachers in Karachi from June 9 till June 11 at its Karachi head office.

OUP Pakistan managing director Ameena Saiyid said that apart from providing good quality books from pre-school to university levels, OUP has been involved in training of teachers over the years. "The OTA programme has been running in 30 countries for the last 15 years," she said. "This is the first time that it is being introduced in Pakistan."

The OTA will be based on nine sessions of 90 minutes each.

"The size of the group of 35 teachers is appropriate as it gives the teachers an opportunity for cross-learning," explained Saiyid, adding that the sessions are based on interactive presentations, role-plays and activities called 'energisers'.

At the end of the course, the teachers will be provided with certificates of training from Oxford University.

"It will be a certificate without assessment," said Saiyid. "Teachers will share their reflections on what they have learnt from these sessions and their feedback will go to Oxford University and certificates will be awarded accordingly."

Saiyid further shared that teachers can access the registration form from OUP website. In addition, hard copies of forms will be sent to schools. She said that they are hoping that schools will sponsor their teachers for this opportunity. "If requested, we will also extend teachers training sessions inside schools," said Saiyid.

After Karachi, the OTA will be conducting sessions in Islamabad from June 12 till June 15, after which it will move to Lahore in August.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2015.