The education and literacy department has prepared the draft policy of teachers licensing in Sindh that will be presented in cabinet for its final approval.
The draft is approved in 14th meeting of the board of Sindh Teachers Education Development Authority (STEDA) held under the chair of Sindh Education and Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah at his office.
The board meeting was attended by Secretary School Education Sindh Ghulam Akbar Laghari, Executive Director Steda, Social Worker Shahzad Roy, Dr. Sajid Hussain and other board members.
The Provincial Education Minister said that Sindh is the first province that prepared teachers accreditation policy.
He said that serious efforts will be continued to make the teaching sector a credible profession. ‘ We want a teacher to excell in his profession and learn new skills after getting a job.
Mr. Shah added that only a licensed teacher will be eligible to get a job in Grade 16 after the approval of the Teachers Licensing Policy by the Cabinet.
He said Sindh is 1st province to present draft for teachers accreditation in cabinet for final approval.
He said that two categories of licenses will be given to qualified teacher: Professional Teaching License (Elementary) and Professional Teaching License (Secondary).
He said that teachers already in the government service will be given promotions and other incentives if they pass the test for licensing. He said that licensing test qualification requires a BA Honors or MA education degree and three years of experience as per draft of policy.
Mr. Shah said that various training modules will be developed by Steda to support Continuous Professional Development CPD. A teacher recruited in grade 16 will be promoted to grade 20 based on trainings.
The minister said that like other civil services the value of teaching profession will increase as the grade of teachers increases based on training adding that teachers will not have to wait for the time scale for promotion.
The minister announced that 700 new vacancies will be filled in the first phase under teachers licensing.
The board meeting also decided to a committee headed by Qazi Kabir for the appointment of head of steda. The committee is mandated to prepare rules regarding the appointment of the head of Steda.
It was also agreed in the meeting that Steda will lead the implementation of the Teachers’ Professional Licensing Policy.
The meeting decided to present proposals of merger PITE and TTI with Steda in the next meeting. Syed sardar Shah said that assembly had passes many acts but there was a need for practical measures to make the rules in the context of the Act.
The Minister of Education directed that the rules of all the acts passed by the Assembly in relation to education should also be prepared and submitted as soon as possible.
