The Punjab government has approached Sindh to share their experiences with the implementation of a teaching license system which may be also introduced in Punjab. The mission led by Punjab Education Minister Raja Yassir Humayun spoke to Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah in Karachi and discussed policy and other related issues regarding teacher accreditation.
Sessions focused on ideas on how to improve teacher professionalism, recognition and accountability within the education sector. Punjab representative Shakil Ahmed hailed Sindh as the first province to introduce such a framework in what he called a step towards conferring dignity on teachers and responsibility on them.
He emphasized that licensed teachers are in a position to possibly work throughout the country with better awaress. Interest of Punjab in the idea was welcomed, and the Minister Sardar Ali Shah proposed to create a joint coordination mechanism between two provinces. The issue that he stressed is the high number of out-of-school children.
Shah also presented non-formal education program in Sindh which was initiated under the public-private partnerships. So far, the program has managed to open 3,000 centers, and it is working to incorporate close to one million children in schools in 30 months time.
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The two provinces reached an agreement to establish a coordination group in order to have uniform dialogue. The meeting ended in the giving of each other cultural gifts, a symbol of goodwill and cooperation.
Punjab officials also reinstated that establishing teaching license methodology will support not only in the cause of teacher accountability but also in the allocation of the nationwide uniform standards in the education industry.
