Caretaker Chief Minister Sindh Maqbool Baqir accompanied by Minister of Education Sindh RanaHussain, visited the Government Elementary College of Education (GECE) Hussainabad being managed by Zindagi Trust in collaboration with Durbeen- an educational NGO.During the visit, Chief Minister Sindh, Justice (Rtd.) MaqboolBaqir, engaged in class visits, interacted with students, and had discussions with faculty members. He also took the time to review the remarkable infrastructure improvements at GECE Hussainabad, which have been expertly renovated. These renovations further underscore the commitment of Durbeen and GECE Hussainabad to providing a conducive learning environment for future educators and enhancing the quality of teacher training in the region.
Salma Alam, CEO of Durbeen briefing the CM said Durbeen’s teacher education program was born out of research, modern teaching practices and ground realities. Pakistan would only prosper when a high-quality teacher becomes a common right for everyone rather than a privilege for the few.” GECE Hussainabad, a pioneering teacher training college, has been instrumental in providing high-quality B.Ed degrees to aspiring educators in Pakistan. These educators eventually go on to become government teachers, making a profound impact on the country’s educational landscape.
Durbeen, through its strategic partnership with GECE Hussainabad since 2019, has been at the forefront of driving positive policy changes in the Pakistani education sector. On June 2, 2023, a momentous occasion took place as the Sindh Cabinet approved the Sindh Teaching Licence Policy.
This groundbreaking policy aims to elevate the teaching profession to the same level of recognition and prestige as other skill-based professions such as medicine, accounting, law, and engineering. Durbeen’s continuous efforts have played a pivotal role in shaping and advocating for this policy, which promises to transform the teaching profession in the region. Durbeen has also partnered with the University of Oxford and the Malala Fund to establish a graduate programme (Master of Science) to train the faculty needed to teach in B.Ed. programmes.
The Government of Sindh (GOS) has initiated the implementation of the new policy by opening up 700 fresh positions for Elementary School Teachers, who are eligible to teach grades 1-8, across the province.
Previously, Junior Elementary School Teachers (JEST) were recruited at BPS-14 and were required to hold a bachelor’s degree in any field. However, these 700 new job opportunities will exclusively be available to graduates of the B.Ed. degree program who have also successfully passed the licensing examination, in accordance with the principles outlined in the Sindh Teaching Licence Policy.
The visit underscored the commitment of Durbeen and GECE Hussainabad to fostering excellence in teacher training and education, aligning with the government’s vision for a more educated and skilled workforce in Pakistan.
