Islamabad: Federal education secretary Nadeem Mahbub visited the cluster-level training session for non-formal education teachers in Tarlai on the outskirts of Islamabad, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving learning outcomes for out-of-school children through systematic teacher capacity building.
Under the NFE Roadmap for Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), a cascading model of teacher training has been adopted to strengthen teaching quality in non-formal institutions. Following the Training of Trainers, cluster-level sessions are now being conducted across ICT to ensure that quality training reaches teachers at the grassroots level and equips them with practical skills for non-formal school settings.
During the visit, the secretary observed training activities and interacted with Master Trainers and trainee teachers. National Commission for Human Development director general Ali Asghar briefed him on the objectives, methodology and schedule of the four-day training programme being implemented under the cascade model.
Secretary Mahbub emphasised that teacher training was critical for improving NFE quality, reducing learning poverty and expanding equitable access to education for children in underserved and remote communities.
He encouraged teachers to benefit from modern pedagogical techniques, multigrade teaching strategies, child-centered approaches and innovative classroom management practices. The secretary also directed organisers to keep the training focused on practical classroom application so teachers can immediately implement learned skills.
"Teachers are central to the success of Non-Formal Education and that their continuous professional development must remain a priority," he said. The secretary appreciated the collaborative efforts of NCHD, National Education Foundation, Basic Education Community Schools, Pakistan Institute of Education and Japan International Cooperation Agency in organizing the cluster-level training, and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening non-formal education as a key pillar of Pakistan’s education strategy.
