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School head-teachers' role critical for schools improvement:
Qazi Arif Ali
The Aga Khan
University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) Pakistan
held its ninth Graduation Ceremony for the "Advanced Diploma in
Education: Educational Leadership and Management." at Aga
Khan University's (AKU) main campus on Stadium Road, Karachi.
Mr Qazi Arif
Ali, Additional Secretary (Academic and Training), Department of
Education and Literacy, Government of Sindh, graced the occasion
as Chief Guest and awarded the Advanced Diplomas to the graduates.
The ceremony was well-attended by parents and families of the graduating
students, in addition to the Institute's senior members, faculty
and other students.
Welcoming the
guests, Dr David Taylor, Acting Provost, Aga Khan University, presented
a brief description of the educational, service and research activities
being undertaken by AKU and in particular by AKU-IED. He congratulated
the graduating course participants and their parents for the success
they have achieved.
Speaking on
the occasion, Mr Qazi Arif Ali lauded the services rendered by Aga
Khan University in diffident areas and disciplines, inclusive of
education. Mr Qazi said that the Department of Education and Literacy,
Government of Sindh took pride in its collaboration with AKU-IED
and acknowledged the efforts of the Institute. He noted and commended
the work being done by AKU-IED in developing and delivering quality
programmes to build capacity in such areas as teacher education,
educational leadership, and early childhood education. Appreciating
the Institute's programmes, Mr Qazi said that its various professional
development programmes have not only enhanced skills and knowledge
of teachers, teacher educators and educational managers, but also
given them the confidence to apply the best practices of teaching
and learning in their classrooms. He added that these programmes
had also helped fellow teachers and other colleagues of the graduates
in capacity building in various disciplines of education.
Dr Muhammad
Memon, Director AKU-IED apprised the guests on various aspects of
the Institute's activities. He stated that the "Advanced Diploma
in Education: Educational Leadership and Management" programme is
offered to those who manage and lead their educational institutions
and also to those who aspire to become school leaders. AKU-IED is
a pioneer institute in Pakistan in developing programmes in the
area of educational leadership for head teachers and principals.
He added that this is a field-based programme guided by a transformational
and constructivist philosophy of education, and the programme prepares
course participants to question their traditional role as administrators
and learn on-the-job by applying alternate approaches to educational
leadership and management.
Dr Memon reported
that research in educational leadership and management suggests
that without effective heads, schools are unlikely to be successful.
He highlighted the need for head-teachers who are visionary, exemplary
in their practices, create a culture of team learning, empower their
staff for taking risks, optimally utilize resources for achieving
maximum outcomes, and develop professional networking. The culture
of compliance and dependency has become a stumbling block for the
growth and development of our schools as learning institutions.
In order to transform our schools, he argued that school heads need
to acquire core learning capabilities - fostering aspiration, developing
reflective conversation, and an understanding of the complexities
of the educational system. To date, 192 heads have graduated and
a substantial number of heads are from schools operating under the
aegis of the Government of Sindh.
Dr Jan-e-Alam
Khaki, Coordinator Advanced Diploma Programmes, delivered the closing
remarks and presented the vote of thanks, bringing the ceremony
to its conclusion.
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