AKU-EB Conducts Third Phase of Training to Develop Capacity of Govt of Balochistan Education Sector

​The third phase of training for the “Consultancy services for capacity development and technical support to the Balochistan Assessment and Examination Commission” project conducted by AKU-EB took place from October 9-18 in Karachi. Thirty participants from government institutions in Balochistan, including the Balochistan Assessment and Examination Commission (BAEC), the Bureau of Curriculum, Policy, Planning and Implementation Unit (PPIU), the Directorate of Schools, and the Professional Institute of Teacher Education (PITE) travelled from Quetta in order to attend. 

The training focused on several diverse topics, including the conduct of educational research, AKU-EB's own e-marking process, various teaching/learning methodologies, and on educational leadership and management. Dr Naveed Yousuf, Associate Director of Assessment and Research, AKU-EB, as well as the head of this project, welcomed participants saying: “All staff from AKU-EB and all of you from Balochistan have learned from one another’s experiences and knowledge during these sessions. This phase will see a diverse range of new topics addressed, which I am sure will continue to benefit you to enhance the standards and practices of assessment in Balochistan.”

As part of the training programme, participants were able to attend the Aga Khan University’s “2nd Educational Research Day” on October 11, which saw multiple, unique research projects and presentations by AKU-EB staff showcased among research submitted by other AKU entities. Participants were also able to experience the seeding and e-marking processes first-hand, working closely alongside subject specialists, and also received training on best practices in teaching and learning methodologies. 

The final day of training saw AKU-EB arrange a one-day seminar for participants, with the theme of Educational Leadership and Management. Multiple educational experts from diverse backgrounds conducted presentations on a variety of topics such as reasons behind student dropout, causes for teacher turnover, good governance in education, and best international assessment practices.

Dr Frank van Cappelle, an international assessment consultant at UNICEF, spoke about mapping and visualizing assessment data to analyse equity dimensions and better communicate key messages.

“A key challenge for assessment bodies is the reliability and usage of data,” said Mr Cappelle. “The former is as important as the results themselves, and correctly strategized interventions depend on it. Data must also be communicated in a manner that is comprehensible, so as to allow everyone to understand and engage with it. There should also be a desire to go beyond what the results appear to be, and to engage with them on a critical level. I have observed that at AKU-EB there is a willingness and drive to not only correctly collect and secure data, but to follow through with these types of guidelines and thus make the best possible use of it.”

The final phase of training for this project is scheduled to take place in Quetta later this year.

 “Consultancy services for capacity development and technical support to the Balochistan Assessment and Examination Commission” project is a part of the agreement that Aga Khan University Examination Board has reached with the Government of Balochistan and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) as part of the larger Balochistan Basic Education Programme funded by the European Union (EU).