RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The British Council hosted the 2nd Annual Teacher Educator Award on Tuesday to recognize and celebrate the contribution of individuals involved in the in-service education of teachers to develop the quality of classroom teaching in the Punjab. 

Through the Punjab Education and English Language Initiative (PEELI), the British Council is working jointly with the provincial Ministry of Education to improve the quality of classroom teaching in government primary schools. A key element to the success of PEELI is the work of the expert trainers who provide training and support to the 250 primary school teachers who, along with the children, are the beneficiaries of the initiative. 

To celebrate their contribution, the British Council has launched the Teacher Educator Award. Annual prize was awarded to five expert trainers who have made outstanding contributions in the support of the professional development of primary school teachers in the Punjab.

Winners of the Teacher Educator Award will attend the 54th International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) Conference in Manchester, United Kingdom. Attended by approximately 3,000 ELT professionals from more than 100 countries, it involves a 4-day programme of around 500 talks, workshops and forums as well as a vibrant social programme. This offers delegates a unique opportunity to meet leading trainers, theorists and writers, and exchange ideas with fellow professionals from all sectors of English language teaching and learning.

Fiona Robertson, Senior Academic Manager, English Education Services said: It’s important to take time to find about our students, speak to them, find out about their reality, their interests and remember them, this way we can find out about how students’ needs change with time.

Research forms an integral part of this collaborative initiative and the British Council presented the results of two research assignments conducted by SAHE and Knowledge Platform that focus on transition to different medium of instructions in schools and introducing a more inclusive approach in primary classrooms.

A panel discussion deliberated over inclusive education in primary school classrooms, and discussed key questions raised.

Panelists included Dr Isabel William, Dean of humanities at Govt Islamia College for Women, Lahore, Muhammad Sabir, Founder of Slumabad, Zubair Torwali, Founder of Idara Taleem-o-Taraqi (IBT) and, Haani Mazari, Marketing Lead of Knowledge Platform.