The United States reinforced its long-term commitment to advancing education in Pakistan at the groundbreaking for a new, $1.5 million Faculty of Education building at Hazara University in Mansehra.
“This new faculty of education building will go a long way toward helping Pakistan improve the quality of education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Barrister Masood Kausar, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Barrister Kausar awarded degrees to 49 students from the Regional Institute of Teacher Education in Abbottabad who have earned Associate Degrees in Education after successfully completing two years of studies. These two-year degrees were introduced to Pakistan by USAID, along with a four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Education.
USAID helped design and introduce these degrees in order to increase the quality of teacher preparation at universities throughout Pakistan.
US Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Jock Conly congratulated the graduates through a special message saying, “The United States government is deeply committed to helping Pakistan develop strong educational institutions.
Together with the Government of Pakistan, the United States is working to improve the quality of education throughout the country. A good teacher can unlock every child’s potential and this building will help Hazara’s teachers prepare their students rise as far as their hard work and initiative will take them.”
Over the next two years, USAID will provide $15 million for the construction and rehabilitation of seven Faculties of Education buildings across Pakistan. More than 2,000 students and 100 faculty members will use these buildings every year, including the recipients of the new ADE and B.Ed. degrees.
Teachers will also receive continuing education in the new, U.S.-funded facilities that will help train teachers working in some of the nearly 500 schools that the U.S. has helped build in Pakistan since October 2009.