Islamabad - A three-day Roots Teacher Development Conference 2014 organised by Roots National Institute of Teacher Training & Education-(RNITTE), the training and human resource development arm of Roots Millennium Schools, concluded here at the PNCA on Sunday.
This was announced to be the largest teacher development conference so far held in Pakistan, which was based on the theme “teachers as technologists, developing learners through technology.”
The third and final day of the conference was blessed by the presence of top professionals of the country, says a press statement issued here. The panel of speakers for this event included Asma Mustafa, Kamran Rizvi, Jibran Jamshed from Microsoft, Khadija Bashir from Intel Education Initiative Pakistan, Abbas Husain, chief guest of the ceremony Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, ambassador of European Union, guest of honour Najia Aizaz Ahmad, President PFOWA, and Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq, CEO Roots Millennium Schools.
Young and passionate Pakistani Asma Mustafa shared with the delegates the tales of passion. She took some examples from daily lives and inspired the teachers by referring them as ‘passionate Ustaads’. According to Asma, passion should come exuberating from one’s body. “Pain is temporary, pride is forever.”
The conclusive day commenced with Kamran Rizvi who said, “Unless we unlock the potential of young people in modern age, we cannot shift to the new age.
To shift to a new age, one should be a master of technology - not the slave of technology.”
Jibran Jamshed briefed the delegates on the importance and usage of Microsoft Office 365, its specifications and benefits in the classroom for promoting personalised learning for engaging experience.
Later, Khadija Bashir from Intel appreciated the efforts of Roots Millennium Schools in getting the teachers trained for intel teach elements programme. Later in the session, master trainer and keynote speaker Abbas Hussain gave an interesting thought-provoking lecture about student voice & leadership in the transformation of the modern day schools.
During this conference and in between the trainers session, Chaudhry Faisal Mushtaq moderated the speeches delivered by the speakers and discussed the very importance of connecting the Millennials to the kind of opportunities that will fundamentally shift their academic experience and which will be most beneficial for them in their personal lives as well as their professional careers.
“If the leaves of a tree turn yellow, do not paint them green, instead water the roots,” said Faisal Mushtaq.
The ceremony closed with the address of Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, the ambassador of European Union. In his address, he emphasised on the necessity of empowerment of the teachers and inculcation of the qualities of honesty, integrity and credibility in the students through the teachers.
The chief guest also presented awarding certificates to each one of the participating teachers, organisers and management team. Certificates were distributed amongst the Cambridge certified teachers. Fifty-six teachers from RMS this year successfully completed their certification in teaching and training from the University of Cambridge out of which 17 teachers have been awarded distinctions by University of Cambridge.