Early Childhood Education in Pakistan

Anita Ghulam Ali Teachers’ Day Award 2009

By:Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aagahi (ITA)Contact:Saeed ul HassanManager Governance & Partnerships 67 A Abid Majeed Road Cantt. Lahore, Pakistan Phone: +92-42- 36689831-3 E-Mail: itacec@gmail.com, saeed.shah@gmail.com Website: www.itacec.org

Anita Ghulam Ali Teachers’ Day Award - A citizens’ initiative in search of living ICONS

I. Introduction:•Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) Public Trust has been engaged in promoting the issue of low status of teachers in Pakistan since 2004. Each year social dialogues, research and policy work is undertaken around a focused theme (www.itacec.org). Since 2008 ITA has added to the advocacy portfolio on the status of teachers the honoring of a living legend in teachers and also search for many more living icons as teachers.•Anita Ghulam Ali Teachers’ award was initiated in 2008 on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day 2008 to salute a legendary teacher and look for many more in Pakistan (www.itacec.org). •Theme in 2008 : Secondary level science •Entries 157 from public or private, any medium urban/rural etc.•70% from public sector; overwhelmingly women teachers. –•Award ceremonies in Karachi & Islamabad at Pakistan Science Foundation.•A Handsome Award: Giving dignity to teachers. Consisting of : •A cash award (Rs. 100,000- Rs. 15,000) 10 in all ; •Shield; medal and special citation for each unique teacher.

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II. AGA Teachers’ Award 2009 : ECE in Pakistan•In 2009, the theme chosen for the AGA Award is Early Childhood Education (ECE). It celebrates integrating of ECE in all Pakistani schools as per the National Education Policy 2009 and Professor Anita Ghulam Ali’s passion for promotion of ECE - the foundation of Quality Learning.

•The National Education Policy 2009 has finally accorded ECE a mainstream position in the schooling system of Pakistan. It is the first country to have done so (www.moe.gov.pk). The ECE National Curriculum 2007 was officially launched in English and Urdu. Its roll out has begun in schools. Several initiatives of civil society and donors are also firmly on the ground. These include: Releasing Confidence and Creativity (RCC) in the provinces of Sindh & Balochistan funded by USAID, with Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) as the grantee, implemented by local partners, and •Surf Excel Unilever CSR support to ‘experiential learning /dirt is good campaign,training over 600 teachers in 3 districts of Punjab and provision of ECE early years’ kits along with curriculum and manuals. 3

AWARDS

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Category of Prizes

Cash and Award Detail

1st Specially crafted and designed Medal/Sash & Rs.100,000

2nd (2) Specially crafted and designed Medal/Sash & Rs.50,000

3rd (4) Specially crafted and designed Medal/Sash & Rs.25,000

4th (3) Specially crafted and designed Medal/Sash & Rs.15,000

Awards: Cash Prize, Shield, Medal & Citation

Anita Ghulam Ali World Teachers’ Day Award 2009

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Theme: Early Childhood Education in Pakistan

Proposed Dates:• 6th April, 2010Timing: 3:00pm-5:30pmVenue: AKU-IED (Aga Khan University-Institute for Education Development, Karachi PakistanSponsors/Supporters:• Aga Khan Foundation (AKF-Pakistan)• Surf Excel Unilever Pakistan • Sindh Education Foundation (SEF)• Female Education Trust (FET)• Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA Public Trust)

Prize HoldersFinal list will be shared after all juries result

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Category Name Province1st Misbha Rani Punjab2nd Asma Tabasum Punjab

Hamida Bi Bi Sindh3rd Maria Punjab

Rimsha PunjabAmbreen Iqbal Balochistan

4th Farhat Jabeen SindhFarid-ul-llah Khan NWFP

ZUlekha Nasir SindhSidra Punjab

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