ACHIEVING QUALITY IN PRIMARY EDUCATION: MONITORING AND DEVELOPMENT THROUGH UEI-PDP
Keywords:
Professional development, educational quality, Monitoring process, Primary education Teacher trainingAbstract
This paper examines the positive impact of ongoing professional development for teachers and administrators on the learning environment in primary schools. Recognizing the importance of quality in education, the United Educational Initiative (UEI) launched the Professional Development Program (PDP) for Primary School Teachers (PSTs) in Sindh, under the supervision of the Education Sector Reform Assistance (ESRA). The program, implemented across four districts in Sindh, involved training 17,000 teachers and 3,000 head teachers/administrators over two years, facilitated by 130 Master Trainers selected on merit from District Education Offices. This study outlines the design of a comprehensive monitoring process for the PDP, utilizing pre/post-observations, interviews, questionnaires, and reports. These tools enabled monitoring teams to observe, inquire, and collaborate with managers, Master Trainers, and the School Support Team to assess the program's progress and implement necessary corrective actions. The paper details both formative and summative evaluation techniques used to assess the program's effectiveness. Data collected through the monitoring process allowed for the categorization of schools, aiming to identify areas needing improvement and promote further research into the factors contributing to varying levels of school performance. The findings suggest that the UEI-PDP has significantly contributed to enhancing the quality of education by fostering the professional growth of teachers and administrators, ultimately leading to a more effective learning environment in primary schools
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