Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has launched a comprehensive exercise to train master-trainers to help drop-out female students to complete their elementary study through distance-learning system. In this connection, a ten-day workshop concluded here Friday, during which 30 teachers belonging to various districts were provided advanced teaching skill and know-how to work as master trainers to provide teaching facility to the female students at their doorsteps.
It has been estimated that millions of students were deprived of acquiring education even at the elementary level due to social and economic barriers. The workshop was part of the on-going efforts of the AIOU to meet the educational requirements of such students. The programe has been initiated in collaboration with the Plan International under its Girl Power Programme (Pakistan). The concluded session was addressed by Dr Abdul Hafiz, Dean of Social Sciences and Mir Mukhtiar Hussain Talpur, director, Bureau for University Extension and Special Programmes/Projects (BUESP). They called for making greater efforts to fight illiteracy at grassroots levels. They assured that the AIOU will provide solid foundation through infrastructural and academic support to educate dropped out girl and middle age female students at the district-level. About the recent achievements of the AIOU, they said there has been unprecedented growth in the students’ enrolment in the last two years, which showed students’ trust in the universities educational pursuits. The concluding session was also addressed by the representative of Plan International Zulqarnain Rafiq. He appreciated the AIOU for its strong commitment and vigorous efforts to reach those students who are deprived of basic education.