By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training has unveiled major reform to bring non-formal education at par with formal system to activate a structured capacity-building and professional development framework to bring non-formal basic education on par with the formal schooling system across Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).
Under this initiative, a third cohort comprising 45 master trainers selected from among 1,400 non-formal education teachers in the federal capital successfully completed an intensive three-day training program.
The concluding session of the “Three Days Professional Development Training for BECS Master Trainers,” organized under the aegis of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS), at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on Thursday.
Addressing the ceremony, Federal Secretary for Education and Professional Training Nadeem Mahbub stated that the Ministry had formulated a comprehensive road map a year and a half ago to modernize and streamline the non-formal education sector.
He emphasized that the primary focus of this road map is to hone the pedagogical skills and capacity of non-formal teachers serving marginalized segments, ensuring no compromise on the quality of education delivered in underserved communities. Mahbub highlighted that, unlike formal school teachers, non-formal educators historically lacked structured professional development.
He noted that under the current initiative, standardized teacher guides were developed, and training sessions were conducted during the summer break. He added that the training umbrella is now being extended beyond Islamabad to AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Underscoring that proactive teacher engagement is as vital as knowledge delivery, he stressed the need for regular and consistent meetings of the newly notified Community Education Committees.
Speaking on the occasion, Director General BECS Hameed Khan Niazi expressed gratitude to Federal Secretary Nadeem Mahbub for his leadership and commitment to advancing the non-formal education reform agenda.
He described BECS schools as a beacon of hope for underprivileged children and noted that ministry patronage is turning teacher empowerment into a reality. Niazi also thanked JICA and other development partners for their sustained support in equipping community educators with modern instructional techniques.
Director General of the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD) Ali Asghar remarked that under the clear directives of the education secretary, teacher training has progressed seamlessly over the past two years, culminating in the graduation of the third batch of 45 master trainers.
He commended non-formal teachers for delivering results despite severe resource constraints and challenging operational environments.
Reaffirming development cooperation, JICA representative Bilal stated that JICA and international partners remain committed to supporting Pakistan in refining reform frameworks, compiling teacher training manuals, and elevating instructional standards in non-formal education. He lauded the dedication of the graduating master trainers, noting that enhancing teaching capabilities at the grassroots level is essential to securing Pakistan’s educational future.
