Karachi, February 27, 2023, for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak, Cambridge International conducted Cambridge Principals Forums in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad this month for educators in Pakistan. The gatherings in three cities brought together more than 509 leaders and educators from 411 Cambridge schools to debate the theme “Ready for the World.”
The keynote address was given by Dr. Mark Winterbottom, a professor of education at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education, and his topic was “Positive classrooms, positive students: building a good learning environment.” The importance of fostering student and teacher autonomy, how it aids in the development of employable skills, and how it motivates teachers to foster a healthy learning environment for pupils in the classroom were among the major subjects covered by participants.
A useful panel discussion titled “Creating Better Futures: Developing World-Ready Skills in Students” was held after the keynote address. Thought leaders in education, business professionals, and students from prestigious universities participated in the panels in all three cities. They shared their perspectives on the abilities students should develop in order to face future challenges and how education can support the development of these abilities.
“As our world rapidly changes, we must equip our students with essential skills that transcend academic achievements and prepare them for real-life experiences,” said, Uzma Yousuf, Country Director, Pakistan at Cambridge International. “By instilling these skills early on in a student’s education journey, we are empowering them to traverse and solve the challenges of the future with confidence and resilience. Now, more than ever, we must prioritize the development of these skills in our students”, she added.
Once more, Cambridge is setting educational records. They made the exciting announcement of establishing an Early Years curriculum specifically created for kids between the ages of 3 and 6 at the most recent Principals Forum. This internationally benchmarked curriculum, which was created by specialists and is based on cutting-edge research, will provide young learners with a strong foundation to build upon as they go through their educational journey. Early skill acquisition will better prepare pupils to face problems and succeed in all facets of their lives, from school to job and beyond. This new Early Years curriculum is no exception to Cambridge’s commitment to raising the bar for education.
The goal of Cambridge is to help students build lifelong talents, not simply academic credentials. During a panel discussion during the event, leaders from universities and other sectors backed the Cambridge concept as well. The panelists all agreed that schools may establish a holistic environment that promotes growth, creativity, and innovation by integrating extracurricular activities with a structured learning process. The panelists emphasized that in addition to helping students gain new information and skills, the educational process should also help them realize their full potential and open up a world of opportunities.
One attendee emphasized the significance of these occasions by saying, “By coming together at events like this, we have the opportunity to exchange our experiences and viewpoints, and to learn from one another about how we may best prepare our children for success in the real world.”
Annual gatherings known as Cambridge Principals Forums give school administrators the chance to network, share best practices, interact with the Cambridge International team, and learn more about Cambridge’s current and future work with Pakistani schools. The British Council provided schools with updates on their efforts to administer exams to pupils in Pakistan as part of this year’s festivities.