Welcome Remarks by ITA/IPL Director PELI 2010 Pre Departure Ceremony July 1 st ,2010

1. Welcome Remarks by ITA/IPL Director PELI 2010 Pre Departure Ceremony July 1st,2010 A Unique Professional Development Program 2003/4-2010/11 Across Pakistan & USA Transforming Perceptions & Actions through Cross Cultural Engagement

2. The PLAYERS 2003/4-2010 • Funded by The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) • Grantee & Implementer Plymouth State University, New Hampshire , USA 160 Participants • Beneficiaries 85% Public Sector Government of Pakistan – All Departments of Education 15% Non-State Institutions with strategic outreach • Participating Provinces/Areas Sindh, Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa FATA, Gilgit Baltistan; ICT, AJK, • Technical & Operational In-country Support: Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) & Institute for Professional Learning (IPL) - affiliated college – HEC Recognized

3. Team Synergies US Department of State through ECA-Citizen Exchanges– Led by Adam Meier Plymouth State University through PEL Project Director - Blakeman Allen Public Affairs Section – US Embassy Pakistan ITA and IPL teams in Pakistan - technical, operational and policy support – large effort across the country PELI Alumni - a vital critical partner and key informants to the evolving PEL Project

4. Key Thematic Areas PELI -2004-2010 • PELI’s Target Group Teachers/educators from Secondary Schools /education • Subject Areas • Science • Mathematics • Social Studies /Environment /Citizenship • English • Headteachers as leaders • Core Themes: Educational leadership, environmental education & stewardship, and conflict resolution. • Responsible Citizenship ; Heritage Preservation ; Environment preservation Peace building through Respect for Diversity

5. Pakistani Educational Leadership(PEL) Project & Institute KEY COMPONENTS – an iterative project Pakistani Educational Leadership Institute (PELI) – Summer Institute 4 weeks – 60 hours per week Master Action Plans – supported by mini Grants- in-country – 6-10 weeks – Debriefing/Field Support Capstone Conference – Alumni, Counterpart institutions, US Educators PELI Alumni Workshops – a new feature supported by small grants up to $500 Research and Publications – from time to time Other components may follow based on annual feedback

6. An Evolving Iterative Institute 2004-2010-–deepening and extending annually Feedback very critical after each PELI Policy, Reforms, National Curriculum & Professional Standards – feedback to PSU –PEL Project team Ideas and suggestions by PELI alums, counterpart institutions factored into successive Institutes – thematically and operationally New components added to the grant proposals each year based on these inputs by PEL project team at PSU

7. PELI ALUMs Synergising with ITA Programs Across Pakistan

8. Spread of PSU Alumni Across Pakistan -2004-2010 ( 160) • *Batch under process • Alumni are working in very challenged spaces in the country, in conflict ridden and highly under-developed areas .. They have great skills and ideas but need technical, financial and moral support to disseminate good practices to a wider audience/fellow teachers to upgrade skills & learning

9. Transformative Statements PELI Alums What PELI meant for me…. .. A personal journey of professional transformation and friendships for a life time – caring faculty at PSU I am not the same I have improved and become more of a listening person – caring teacher for my students I learned to respect my rich cultural heritage - PSU teams taught us this so profoundly The visit to Washington DC was unique and empowering .. We rubbed shoulders with decision makers who listened to what we had to say.. I learnt to appreciate our own cultural diversity of 10,000 history of civilizations People are the same.. Caring and nurturing .. Rich contexts and cultural exposure to be woven into cultural and professional frames and classroom interactions I see my students with a new lens since my return to PELI PELI experience is a must for teachers in Pakistan .. A journey of personal and professional transformation.. I am blessed From PELI Alums 2004-2009

10. Exciting Firsts in PELI 2009/2010 Participants expansion– successfully doubled from 20 to 40! Graduate Certificate Program: Intercultural Education and Leadership of 15 Graduate Credit Hoursgranted by PSU Academic Committee based on merit and performance from 2010 -2011 – encompassing PELI participation in USA and in-country MAPs – A pioneering step .. Suggested by the PELI cohort of 2009 Eligibility: Open only to PELI participants, who may enroll upon arrival in Plymouth. Incentivizing professionals – raising the status of teachers in Pakistan Challenges are HEC recognition of the 15 Grad. Credit Hours through partner institutions & IPL

11. PELI Grant Goals 2010-2011 • Goal 1: Foster respect amongst the diverse cultures of Pakistan and the United States through the examination of educational leadership as a keystone of civil society, with a focus on ethical decision making and advocacy for change. • Goal 2: Transform institutional and individual understanding of best practices and innovations in science education, incorporating environmental models. • Goal 3: Share strategies for the effective delivery of environmental literacy in English with a focus on clarity and appropriate technical terminology. • Goal 4: Engage educators in the development and implementation of Master Action Plans that assist them in translating Institute content into culturally appropriate, best pedagogical practices within Pakistan’s curricular and societal frameworks and in affecting change in the educational sector. • Goal 5: Explore strategic planning initiatives to expand alumni outreach and engagement

12. Master Action Plans (MAPs) - PSU Alumni - Good Practices for Dissemination • Since 2008 PSU-PELI alums engaged in subject/thematic MAPs in Pakistan, • Forming environmental clubs in schools • Environmental and heritage preservation • Citizenship, Diversity & Peace Education . • Valuable Resource Materials generated which must be disseminated across many more educators • Emerging Communities of Practice and reflection - promoting a wider movement of teachers without frontiers or educators without frontiers • Big opportunity for professional development and standards • PSU Alumni emerging as major players

13. PELI Alumni Network – Institutionalization Prospects PELI Alumni have trained over 170,000 teachers across Pakistan from 2004 onwards- a formidably capable group PELI Alumni 160 in 2010, a growing force in Pakistan - culturally diverse, professionally competent & imaginative Already the Alums are actively engaged in collaborating across provinces and borders (India/USA) The Institute of Professional Learning (IPL)- affiliated with the University of Education and HEC recognized since 2009 is willing to provide operational support for PELI Alumni Network – IPL has mandate for Professional Networks (two networks already running voluntarily at IPL- PTAN/PELI)

14. Some Suggestions for Expansion & Diversity of PELI Expand the program annually Faculty and Teachers’ Exchange programs between USA & Pakistan, perhaps regionally as well Program to be expanded to a Summer institute for students in the 4 year B.Ed program- an incentive towards professionalization of teachers Sandwich programs for Masters – USA and Pakistan based through PELI institutions in both countries Regional exchange and capacity building programs ITA/IPL - 7 year track record without any hiccups to become an institutional partner for such and many other citizen/educator exchange programs across public sector institutions and selected private sector

15. ITA Salutes A Grand Alliance for Quality Education through public private partnerships & United States of America (USA)– Pakistan Friendship Thank You