By Rehan Khan Khushik
KARACHI. Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority (STEDA) Board meeting chaired by Minister of Education and Minerals Sindh Syed Sardar Ali Shah
Secretary School Education Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi, Executive Director STEDA Rasool Bux Shah, Board members and concerned officers participated on this occasion.
The overall performance of STEDA was reviewed in the meeting.
STEDA aims to improve the quality of teaching through teacher education, teacher licensure and accreditation of qualified teachers.
Executive Director STEDA Rasool Bux Shah briefed the meeting that the first test of teachers’ license was conducted by IBA Sukkur on January 28 this year under the third party testing procedure.
4000 candidates participated in the first test for teacher’s license. 646 candidates were declared successful in the license test.3023 government teachers participated in teachers license test and 445 teachers passed.
Out of 977 candidates, 201 were successful in obtaining pre-service license.2441 male candidates and 1559 female candidates participated in the first teaching license test in Sindh.377 female candidates while 269 male candidates passed the test.
In the in-service category, 281 junior elementary school teachers, 124 primary school teachers, 29 early childhood teachers and 11 high school teachers passed.
Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah expressed his concern over the results.
“Licensing test results suggest that we still have a lot of work to do in teacher education”” said Syed Sardar Ali Shah”.
Committee set up to formulate policy regarding incentives and promotion to passing teachers
“In the next meeting, the committee should make suggestions regarding giving incentives to the teachers who pass the teaching license test”” said Provincial Minister Sardar Shah”.
“In order to restore the confidence of the teachers, the promotion and incentives approved at the time of issuing the license certificate will also be given”” said Sindh Education Minister”.
The proposed format of licensing certificate was approved in the meeting.
It was also decided in the meeting that the teachers will also be given accreditation.
“In future, various facilities will also be provided to the licensed teacher”” said Sindh Education Minister”.
Teacher will also be written in NADRA ID card to honor the teacher.
“We will not compromise on quality to make teaching a respected profession”” said Education Minister Sardar Shah”.
In the meeting, the draft code of conduct for teachers was presented to the members, which will be approved in the next meeting.
