US launches $75m teachers education programme in Punjab

 

Islamabad
A new five-year $75 million US funded program to improve Pakistan’s teacher skills and qualifications was officially launched in Lahore on Wednesday. 

The Pre-Service Teachers Education Program (Pre-STEP) is a cooperative endeavour between the US government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Punjab’s Ministry of Education. USAID had previously signed an MOU at the national level and is establishing the program in each province.

“We all recognised the great need for improving the skills and qualifications of new teachers in order for Pakistan’s overall education system to improve. We are committed to supporting Pakistan in its education reforms,” said USAID Pakistan Mission Director Robert Wilson. “Notably, we plan to develop closer ties with Punjab province on education programmes specifically, and on broader development issues, especially in southern Punjab,” he said.

The Pre-STEP programme is designed to improve the quality of basic education in Pakistan by strengthening teacher education and skills.

The News:Thursday, July 23, 2009