Experts Call for Raising Status of Teachers to Improve Education Sector

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Teacher's status in society is a critical, yet largely ignored factor affecting the state of education in Pakistan, experts stressed at the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development's (AKU-IED) National Research Symposium on Teacher Status, which opened today.

The major aims of the two-day symposium are to take into account issues pertaining to the status of teachers and the teaching profession in the country, identify a set of questions and issues for further research and deliberation, and put forward policy recommendations.

At the opening session, Dr Muhammad Memon, Director, AKU-IED, highlighted that high priority has been given to teachers' professional development but very little effort was made to research into teacher status and its implications for policy. He further added that merely recognizing teaching as a profession will not help improve teacher status until governments, teachers, educators, civil society, and professional organizations recognize their collective responsibility to develop a framework for enhancing teacher status. Dr Memon stressed on the need to conduct a study on assessing teacher status and examine its implications for policies.

Chief Guest, Mr Firoz Rasul, AKU President said that the civil society and governments need to recognize the role of teachers from broader social and economic perspectives, which will enhance teachers' self-esteem and sense of professionalism. Mr. Rasul advised the teachers need to take self-responsibility for enhancing their skills and knowledge and look for opportunities to upgrade themselves as professionals on an ongoing basis. He also appreciated the initiatives and efforts of federal, provincial and district governments of Pakistan to address various issues affecting the quality of education in the country.

The Symposium aims to engage researchers, practitioners and academicians in deliberation on issues regarding teacher status; develop recommendations for policy makers and other stakeholders in addressing issues identified. Teacher status will be seen from the knowledge, socio-cultural and economic perspectives. Eminent scholars and academics from the field of education in Pakistan will deliver papers and make presentations related to the theme of the symposium to generate a dialogue on the theme of the symposium.

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