Sindh govt introduces teaching licence policy to promote skilled professionals.

KARACHI -- In a bid to elevate the teaching profession, the Sindh cabinet on Thursday introduced the Teaching Licence Policy.

The government of Sindh has already taken the first step toward rolling out the new policy. Some 700 new vacancies have been created for elementary school teachers (eligible to teach grades 1-8) across Sindh in BPS-16.

Previously, junior elementary school teachers (JESTs) were being inducted in BPS-14 and were required to have completed graduation in any field.

These new 700 vacancies will only be offered to graduates of the BEd degree programme who have also cleared the licensing exam.

Creates around 700 vacancies for elementary schoolteachers; offers expeditious promotion and job regularisation

The policy is aimed at attracting talented youth to the teaching profession as well as raising the status of the profession. This landmark reform looks to bringing the same rigour and respect to the teaching profession as enjoyed by the other skill-based professions, including medicine, accounting, law and engineering. Now, the new entrants to the field of teaching will be both required and incentivised to get professional training before seeking jobs.

The policy preparation was preceded by a year-long research and consultation led by Aga Khan University's Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED) which culminated in a 'White Paper' which was jointly launched by AKU-IED, Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority (STEDA) and Durbeen in June 2022. Consultations were held among a wide range of stakeholders - Pakistani universities, school management, teachers, teachers' unions, parents and students. Scholars from several other institutions, including Ziauddin University, contributed to the policy-writing efforts.

Sharing his views about the development, Sindh Minister for Education, Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, said that conceptualising and bringing the teaching licence policy to life had not been easy.

'However, I am grateful to the AKU-IED, STEDA, Durbeen and all other partners who have worked tirelessly to make this policy a possibility. The success of the next generation of teachers and students ultimately depends on its smooth implementation,' he...