Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC July 20, 2007 Pakistani Educators Participate in Special Training ProgramThe U.S. Department of State welcomes a group of 15 Pakistani educators and administrators, who arrived in the United States earlier this month for an intensive summer training program on the campus of Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire. Under a Citizen Exchange grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Plymouth State University (PSU) is hosting a group of Pakistani educators for the fourth consecutive year. Since 2004 PSU has trained 65 educators from Pakistan in three summer institutes; this group brings the number of program participants to 80.
While in New Hampshire, the Pakistani participants are taking part in intensive training in research design and in quantitative and qualitative assessment and evaluation methodologies. They will utilize these methodologies upon their return to Pakistan to evaluate the success and effect of the program on the work of the participants from the previous three years. According to statistics compiled by Lahore-based Pakistani partner Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, alumni of the program acting as master trainers in Pakistan have trained almost 10,000 educators. The group also will travel to Boston, Massachusetts, during their program, and conclude their program with a trip to Washington, DC. The Department of State’s Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau (ECA) works closely with Plymouth State University and the Pakistani partner organization, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi, to ensure that the program curriculum reflects U.S.-Pakistan educational cooperation goals. The curriculum focuses on best practices in education and on exemplar models in professional development and pedagogy. The institute experience also provides opportunities for citizen exchanges that reflect the essence of life in a democratic society. For more information about Citizen Exchange programs or other exchanges managed by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, contact Darlene Kirk, (202) 203-7616. More information on the U.S.-Pakistan education cooperation is available at: http://pakistan.usembassy.gov/pakistan/h06113002.html. 2007/618 |