Workshop held to promote outcomes-based teaching at secondary level

A training workshop aimed at promoting an outcomes-based teaching system in secondary education was organised by the Institute of Education and Research (IE&R), University of Peshawar, in collaboration with Oxford Policy Management. Teachers, educationists and government representatives participated in the event.

Speaking at the inauguration, Director IE&R Hafiz Muhammad Inamullah said education must be aligned with the daily lives of students to be meaningful and effective. He stressed that quality teachers are central to improving education standards and that continuous and effective professional training is essential to produce competent educators.

He added that student learning outcome (SLO)-based education makes the learning process easier and more meaningful for students, and such workshops help facilitate a smooth transition for both teachers and learners.

Dr Alia Khalid, principal investigator of the project and senior lecturer at the Oxford College of Education, University of Oxford, highlighted the challenges facing education systems worldwide, noting that Pakistan faces similar issues.

She said the research project aims to identify practical strategies to address these challenges and contribute positively to the education system. According to her, SLO-based policies can play a significant role in making education more engaging and effective.

Special guest Director DPD Dr Muhammad Mutahir appreciated the efforts of teachers and trainers working under DPD, saying the institution is actively involved in training newly recruited teachers.

He expressed interest in strengthening collaboration with the Institute of Education and Research in the future. Referring to curriculum reforms introduced in 2006, he said assessment had been aligned with the curriculum and a new system of school-based online assessment had also been introduced. He expressed hope that the project would help address issues related to SLO-based education.

During the workshop, a special “Teachers Resource Pack” developed for educators was also piloted. The resource pack is part of the DARE-RC Consortium study under the wider DARE-RC project, funded by the UK government through UK International Development. The project is being implemented by Oxford Policy Management in collaboration with partner institutions.

The event was attended by Assistant Director NCHD Ijaz Khan, university faculty members, education experts, subject specialists from higher secondary schools teaching English, mathematics and science, DPD experts, and school heads.