The Aga Khan School in Dhaka is
strongly committed to promoting and enhancing
quality education. Central to this belief is the
professional development of teachers. Better-trained
and skilled teachers provide a more varied, interesting
and enriching learning experience for students.
These teacher training programmes are reinforced
through partnerships with the Aga Khan
University-Institute of Educational Development
(Pakistan); the International Academic Partnership,
which features Phillips Academy, Andover (USA)
and the Schule Schloss Salem (Germany); and the
University of Calgary (Canada).
All primary and junior teachers at the school
have completed the Certificate of Education Training.
Professional Development
These teacher training efforts are extended to
community schools through outreach programmes.
AKES is presently formulating a partnership with
BRAC (Bangladesh
Rural Advancement Committee), a non-governmental
organisation, to assist with training and professional
development programmes for BRAC staff.
In addition, government teachers have been participating
in the Certificate of Education Programmes since
2003.
These efforts are supported by a team of Professional
Development Trainers who have received training
qualifications from the Aga Khan University-Institute
for Educational Development.
Teacher Performance Review and Quality
Education
How does the School ensure that the benefits of
teacher in-service and professional development
actually manifest themselves in the classroom
and enhance the learning experience of young people?
Ensuring this happens is the responsibility of
the Principal and Vice Principals. Informal and
formal visits are made to the classroom on a regular
basis. Every administrator spends part of their
day visiting classrooms to monitor teacher performance
and student progress. The less frequent "Formal
Visit" is part of a well-established process
in which all teachers participate. The objectives
of the visits are:
- To monitor the progress and well being of
students
- To ensure that the correct curriculum is
being taught
- To determine that adequate records are being
kept
- To assess teacher competence
- To identify the professional needs of teachers
- To ensure that classroom management and teaching
strategies promote an active learning environment
- To identify potential leaders.
Parents are strongly encouraged to discuss educational
concerns or their child’s classroom progress
with the school administration.
|
