Teaching License - A possible way to improve teacher quality in Pakistan
Teachers are the single most important factor contributing to student learning outcomes. Good teaching plays a key role in ensuring that students remain in schools, while increasing economic productivity and good life outcomes for students. The below average performance of students learning outcomes in international and national assessment highlights the need to improve teacher’s quality.
AKU-IED began work on the Teaching License
policy in 2017, in partnership with Sindh Teachers Education Development
Authority (STEDA). In 2021 we furthered this work by carrying out various
national/international policy dialogues. We issued a White Paper in 2022- and
in this effort, we were joined by Durbeen and STEDA to improve the
professionalism and status of teachers, which would eventually improve
students’ learning outcomes. On May 25, 2023, the Government of Sindh made a
landmark decision to approve the implementation of the policy in the province.
In December 2023, the collaborative efforts bore fruit as the Government of Sindh announced the launch of the first-ever Teaching License test in Pakistan, to be administered by IBA Sukkur University. In its first offering, elementary level teachers from public and private schools have been invited to register for the test which is due to be conducted by the first quarter of 2024 in the major cities of the Sindh province. Click below to read/download key resources: