The Innovative Education Forum (IEF), hosted by Microsoft Pakistan, has brought together several teachers from private, public and NGO adopted schools to bring forward their projects and be a part of this productive day of project exhibitions, inspiring keynote presentations, professional learning and collaboration. Amongst many innovative projects there were five short-listed projects presented by the teams on this occasion. The top teams decided by the jury comprising of three judges would be sent to Casablanca, Morocco on a Microsoft-sponsored trip to compete at the regional level of IEF Competition to be held in August. Top three winners for the local finals were announced at the end of the event. Omer Eqbal from Roots School System got the first position, followed by Asif Khawaja from Daanish School and Munazza Butt from Roots School System.
Along with teachers from leading schools and colleges competing in the IEF Competition 2012, were also students from Daanish School, a project of the Government of Punjab, enabling the poorest sections of the society to have access to quality education. Speaking at the occasion, Kamal Ahmed, Country General Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, said, “This is an excellent opportunity for these vibrant and enthusiastic teachers to show their expertise. Microsoft lauds their efforts to revolutionize teaching methods by using ICT as a carrier to engage their students and to enhance the effectiveness of education. They are applying ICT to the real world and equipping our children with the skills necessary to compete with the globally competitive work force.”
The IEF is part of Microsoft PIL (Partners In Learning) program, which works with governments and education leaders around the world at the national, state and local levels to deliver a portfolio of professional development, curricula, tools and resources designed to advance 21st-century teaching, learning and digital inclusion that improve learning outcomes for every student.
“Teachers are the greatest catalysts of development, capable of changing a nation’s mindset and steering the country to progress by working at the very grass root level. Forums like these are not only enlightening but also very inspiring, reminding us how valuable ICT as well as teachers are for a progressive society, said Ms. Tayyaba Noureen, one of the judges at the event.
Through supporting such events, Microsoft has furthered educational development in the country by leaps and bounds. Microsoft hosts such competitions each year in different countries, the idea being that today’s advancement in technology along with the imagination, passion and creativity, can light up a better future for the generations to come.
SHC accepts lawyer`s bail plea : The Sindh High Court (SHC) Monday accepted bail plea of Advocate Nadeem Ahmed upon paying surety bond of 2.5 million rupees.
Advocate Nadeem Ahmed was arrested over charges of corruption worth Rs. 5 billion, after which he filed bail plea in the SHC.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Maqbool Baqir accepted the bail plea of Advocate Nadeem Ahmed.