KARACHI - The Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), Female Education Trust (FET) and Oxford University Press (OUP) have decided that they would launch Anita Ghulam Ali Teachers' Award for 10 best secondary school science teachers across the country annually in connection of World Teachers' Award 2008. Lucrative cash prizes would be given to the best school teachers every year. The first awards ceremony in this regard would be held in Karachi by the end of November and final date would be announced soon, organisers told The Nation on Saturday.   They said that the award for the best 10 teachers would be given in three categories, first prize would be Rs 100,000, second Rs 50,000 which are four prizes, third Rs 30,000 which are two prizes and four consolation prizes would be of Rs 15,000. They said that selection panel comprising senior educationists, researchers and education experts having solid background in their fields. The panel is comprising Professor Khawaja Masud, a revered professor, thinker and activist, Syed Raza Kazim, a teacher, researcher and inventor, Dr Arfa Syeda, chairperson National Commission on the status of women, Dr Mohammad Memon, Agha Khan University, Institute for Education Development (Sindh), Professor Bernadette, Dean  and Principal Kinnaird College (Punjab), Professor Shaheen Sardar Ali, Professor of Law, Warwick School of Law, University of Oslo, Mashood Rizvi, Director British Council (Sindh, Balochistan), Ameena Saiyid, country director OUP, Bela Raza Jamil, educator and chairperson ITA. They further said that the criteria to participate in the best teachers award is professional excellence, activism for school improvement, intellectuals enterprise, active citizenship, holistic humanism, creative writing on education issues and sacrifices for quality education.       When contacted Bela Raza, chairperson ITA, she said that Professor Anita Ghulam Ali is a living legend and a teacher and citizen par excellence who believes in the spirit of teachers and their strength. This award is not bound by any quota or provincial constraint but only driven by the motivation to find models of excellence that can display teachers' role and status in our society. She mentioned that submissions have been extended to November 10, 2008 due to the ongoing conflicts and economic crisis which is engulfing our country. To date 120 entries have been received from across the country. The panellists are eminent educators from all four provinces.   Raza said that it had been finalised that the first awards ceremony would be held in Karachi by the end of November and final dates of the ceremony would be announced after completion of the submission process of the candidates. She confirmed that the awards would be given every year.