Training Effective Afghan Teachers

In August, AIL continued its expansion of the teacher training program and visited both Balkh and Bamyan Provinces. In total, six teacher training and literacy seminars were held for 344 people including 238 women and 106 men. The teacher training seminars run over 10 days and are comprehensive in approach and designed for teachers who have never had training in modern teaching methods. It is still the case that many teachers enter the job with only a high school education and no formal training.

“The supervisor at my school had complained that I did not know how to teach and said he would demote me from high school to elementary school teaching. This was a blow to my self-confidence and I worried about my future. This seminar helped to see that elementary teaching is just as important as high school. I can now plan my lessons and complete the syllabus on time. I also learned how to do exams and new methods such as role playing and question and answer.” 

The staff also held 4 workshops in leadership for 190 students while they were in Balkh and Bamyan Province.  There were five 5- day reproductive health workshops for 285 people, some of them teachers. Teachers are crucial at disseminating information to their pupils about many topics such as women’s health. The girl students then relay what they have learned from their teachers to female relatives. The topics covered included pregnancy, infant care, birth control, hygiene, vaccines and birthing. 

Your support for AIL’s training programs makes all the difference! Thank you.

The teacher training seminars run over 10 days and are comprehensive in  approach catering to all levels, including those who have had no formal training at all. Many teachers enter the job with only a 12^th grade education. Dr. Yacoobi believed peace, critical thinking, a compassionate and just society and improved humanity can only be achieved when there is quality education provided for all from the earliest of ages. She started helping Afghans in the refugee camps in Pakistan in the 1990s, and one of the things she put in place from the start was training teachers.

The training gives teachers knowledge and skills so they can run modern, interactive, student-centered classrooms whether teacher and student are in partnership and actively engaged in the learning process. Afghanistan needs its youth to grow up asconfident, independent, critical thinkers with problem solving skills, who are good team players, listeners, advocates for equality, justice and fairness.Quality teachers are key to helping youth reach their potential.

Here are Khadijah’s comments, “I taught at a high school but in one year the school changed my subject five times because the students did not like my teaching style and did not learn anything. I was facing termination or transfer of my contract. Someone suggested that I attend an AIL seminar to improve my teaching. I learned a lot over the 10 days of the seminar including how to manage a classroom, modern teaching methods, creating monthly/yearly plans. Now I have become one of the best teachers in the school and my students are happy!” 

Your support makes all the difference! Thank you.