KARACHI: Marking World Teachers Day with this year’s theme ‘Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education,’ the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) underscored the crucial role educators play in shaping the future of education and society.
Pakistan’s education sector faces significant challenges, with nearly 1.5 million teachers responsible for over 22 million students at the primary and secondary levels. Despite their pivotal role, the teaching profession often remains underappreciated, with limited opportunities for continuous professional development.
World Teachers' Day is a timely reminder of the need to invest in educators to ensure quality teaching and learning across the country.
The AKU-IED event attracted a diverse audience comprising teachers, head teachers, and educators from public and private schools, as well as higher education institutions, offering a platform to reflect on their contributions and the need to amplify their voices in the evolving educational landscape.
AKU-IED Dean Dr. Farid Panjwani highlighted the profound influence teachers have on shaping the intellectual and emotional development of children. "Teachers are the architects of a child’s intellectual and emotional growth. Their ability to nurture curiosity, encourage critical thinking, and inspire a love for learning is fundamental to building a thoughtful and imaginative society. Teachers’ voices must be central to any educational reform," he remarked.
The event commenced with students sharing their perspectives on ‘Who is an Ideal Teacher?’ Students from local schools spoke about the importance of empathy, engagement, and effective communication as key traits of a great teacher.
A research presentation titled ‘How Do Students Define a Good Teacher?’ followed, sharing findings from a survey of around 500 students across Pakistan. The survey revealed that 53pc of students valued pedagogical practices that created engaging, real-world learning experiences, while 44pc stressed the importance of positive teacher behaviour. Only 3pc associated good teaching solely with maintaining a positive classroom environment.
The event also featured a panel discussion on ‘Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education’ by Ahmed Saya, recipient of the Cambridge University Dedicated Teacher Award 2019; Dr. Sadia Bhutta, Associate Professor at AKU-IED and HEC Best University Teacher Award winner (2015); and Aniqa Bano, AKU-IED alumna and recipient of the 2024 Presidential Pride of Performance award for education.
The panelists stressed the importance of incorporating teachers’ perspectives into educational reforms through collective efforts.
The event concluded with a call to action, urging stakeholders to recognise the pivotal role of teachers in creating a more inclusive and effective education system.