"The PELI-PSU experience has opened new windows of learning and understanding for me. Through this programme, I have understood in-depth effective teacher-student relationships, educational methodologies and the fact that teaching and learning is not limited to the four walls of a classroom," said Zahid Hussain Jatoi, Monitoring & Evaluation Officer, Reform Support Unit (RSU).
Zahid was one of the members of the 40 cohort of educators who participated in the four week Pakistan Education Leadership (PELI) intensive project for Pakistani educators in the US this year. The De-briefing session for the PELI educators was held at a local hotel. Raeesa Adil, Deputy Programme Manager, Teacher Education & Development (TED), Reform Support Unit as the chief guest, Ameena Saiyid, Managing Director Oxford University Press, Baela Raza Jamil, Director, Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aagahi (ITA), guests from the US Consulate in Karachi and leading educationist were also present.
The gathering also saw individual presentations by PELI 2011 Alumni of their personal learning experiences and remarks by Hamza Lakhani, Alumni Co-ordinator from the US Consulate. To date, 200 educators have participated in this project from all over Pakistan.
Baela Raza Jamil, Director ITA briefed the congregation on ITA's collaboration with Plymouth State University (PSU) in facilitating this programme in Pakistan. She urged the PELI Alumni to leverage their work with the local community and notable not-for-profit organisations like SEF, WWF and Nisar Foundation to create awareness and to bring positive change in the society. Baela stressed "in order for our country to move forward, the crises in the present education system should be addressed and we look forward to our alumni bringing about the change." Raeesa Adil applauded the work being carried forth by ITA in Pakistan and said, "the collaboration of ITA and PSU will open more avenues of learning and development of teachers in Pakistan who can contribute back manifold to the teaching system in Pakistan". Fauzia Siddiqi, President Pakistan-US Alumni Network (PUAN) said that during the closing of the session that through such endeavours, cultural gaps could be bridged between the US and Pakistan.-PR