Need for diversifying learning stressed

"'One type fits for all' mode of education has destroyed innovation and the spirit of learning in everyone, including parents, children, teachers and the society. To bring about any meaningful change in the lives as well as state of education in Pakistan and the subcontinent, it would be essential to diversify our thinking and interactions." This was observed by speakers at a conference on 'Diversifying Learning', organised by Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan (AKESP) at a local hotel on Monday.
They also highlighted that reclaiming the creativity, values and confidence in local knowledge forms should become immediate target for schools and everyone associated with it.
They appreciated the efforts which AKESP is putting in to revive the true learning spirit in the schools and termed it as a ground breaking initiative.
To share inspiring examples from across the globe renowned educationists with extensive experiences of combating the ills of the education system were invited to work with the participants on creating alternatives.
The speakers at the conference included: Manish Jain, Co-ordinator of Shikshantar, The Peoples' Institute for Rethinking Education and Development in Rajasthan, India;
Yusef J Progler, Professor of Social Sciences and Education at Zayed University in Dubai; Munir Faseh, Director of Arab Education Forum at Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University; and Dr Quratulain Baktiari, Director, IDSP.
Habib Peer Mohammed, Chairman, AKESP in his address of welcome emphasised the need to empower teachers and ensure that they consider themselves as learners.
He added that more spaces for dialogues and deliberations on the issues, potentials and possibilities for overcoming the challenges faced by students and teachers and the education sector at large would strengthen the commitment and hope to regenerate learning.
The participants of the conference also analysed the issues and challenges associated with the existing notions and framework of learning embodied in schools, colleges and universities while engaging in rethinking and reflecting on their own educational practices.
The conference aimed to regenerate and diversify learning possibilities for school children and teachers while analysing how current education system and standards are not supportive of learners and learning environment.
The students who participated in the discussion re-identified human sources of knowledge of wisdom while chalking out ways of moving away from "textbook and information transmission mode of schooling".
The government's highest priority should be improvement of teaching and learning in an innovative environment through partnerships. Continuos efforts are needed to improve the quality of education in Pakistan.
There must be some education programme initiated by the government to transform the teaching and learning process as well as the management practices in a way that home and school environments become conducive for learning and learners.
This is being facilitated through acknowledging diversity in context and people, providing spaces for reflection and creation, and most importantly building on the invaluable traditions and experiences which every child, teacher, parent and member of the school community possesses.
EDO Education Aijaz Ali Khan, along with a large number of representatives from the Ministry of Education, Govt of Sindh, different academic institutions, national and international NGOs as well as schools and teachers from various public and private schools, also attended the conference.
The topics that were discussed were: 'Diversifying Learning; and 'Issues and Challenges'.
It was a plenary and open discussion. The panel included Munir Faseh, discussing co-authoring new meanings while dismantling 'Co-opted' concepts in learning; Manish Jain talked about systemic tyranny of schools and institutions; Yusuf Progler threw light on legitimacy of knowledge bases---from mechanistic to convivial mode of learning, voices of students and teachers, moving towards diversity, exploring the possibilities of recreating learning.
Aga Khan Education Service, Pakistan, is among the earliest of the non-governmental education providers in this region with its first school being established in 1905 in Gwadar, Balochistan. A century later AKESP operates 186 schools, over 200 community-based educational initiatives and 100 public and private partner schools spread across all four provinces and Northern Areas of Pakistan, providing educational access to over 75,000 students throughout Pakistan. AKESP works with the government and communities to develop models of public/private partnership which play a vital role towards implementing the Education Sector of the Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan.