Intel Pakistan Corporation in collaboration with the Punjab Education Department organised an award ceremony to recognise the outstanding performance of schools and teachers who have played a pivotal role this year in enhancing student learning via the integration of technology into their daily curriculum.
Mian Imran Masood, Minister for Education, Punjab, was the chief guest, while Sadia S. Chaudhry Advisor to Chief Minister, Punjab, on Education and Nazir Saeed, Secretary Information Technology, Punjab, graced the occasion as the guests of honour.
The Intel Education Awards, organised every year under the Intel Teach Programme initiative, are given to outstanding schools and teachers for demonstrating innovative use of technology to inculcate inquiry-based learning within students. This year, technology grants of Rs 300,000 were awarded to 6 schools, alongwith cash prizes of Rs 5,000 each awarded to 36 winners.
Lauding Intel Pakistan's role in helping students keep pace with the changing dynamics of the IT world, Imran Masood said: "At present, the biggest challenge encountered by teachers lies in moulding technology into their existing curriculum in ways where it not only helps students boost achievement in core subjects like mathematics, sciences and arts, but at the same time also enables them to master the skills crucial to build the technical know-how and experience necessary in the wired world today."
Sharing his insights on the occasion, Shahzad A. Khan, Country Manager, Intel Pakistan Corporation said: "As more and more emphasis is being placed world-wide upon integrating technology into the daily curriculum of schools, the need to constantly upgrade the technical skills of students and substantially increase their IT knowledge is becoming increasingly important. The 'Intel Education Awards' is therefore, an endeavour to appreciate the tireless efforts of teachers in grooming the future of today's youth."
According to him, Intel to date has conducted 375 forums and workshops reaching out to over 16,000 teachers and principals which include Master Trainer forums, various enhancements and principal workshops with the objective of keeping the teachers abreast with the latest teaching methodologies. Intel is also constantly in touch with the trained teachers to ensure that quality of the programme is maintained. The Intel Teach Programme initiative is designed to enable teachers to effectively use technology to enhance student learning in the digital world. The programme has spread to over 75 cities, towns and districts in Pakistan with more than 113,000 teachers having been trained.