Critical Thinking and Open Society in Pakistan

• In Event: Made in Pakistan: The critical rethinking of critical thinking in education in Pakistan

Abstract

The objective is to present Open Society Foundations (OSF) initiative, Critical Thinking Program as part of a wider focus on quality education in the context of the considerable challenges facing critical thought and freedom of expression in Pakistan. It is professional development program for teachers, linking with curriculum reform, textbooks and assessment system, strong potential to affect national teacher-training systems, training which strengthens teaching and learning processes to promote transformative values, critical thinking, tolerance and inclusion.
With The Citizens Foundation (TCF), a partner since 2010, OSF-Pakistan in coordination with Education Support Program (ESP) developed local material and introduced critical thinking program in all of their 900 plus schools (recently a TCF student got a full scholarship for study at Harvard University). The feedback from teachers has been positive: they felt that critical thinking strategies were useful and the knowledge gained from the training gave them the confidence to face students’ queries. Teachers have been motivated and inspired to integrate various teaching strategies and activities into their teaching to improve thinking skills of their students. They are promoting greater student engagement and encouraging students to show their imagination and creativity.
This presentation will highlight importance of Critical Thinking Program as part of a wider focus on quality education, key outcomes of the work done with the Citizens Foundation. This will also highlight feedback from TCF officials, teachers and students.
Currently, OSF-Pakistan is supporting Teachers’ Resource Centre for the Critical Thinking Program. OSF-Pakistan will also be offering the Critical Thinking Program (CTP) to other partners, especially public sector partners so that CT becomes a core teaching method across the education system. In this context, the presentation will also highlight OSF-Pakistan’s plan to scale up and institutionalize the Critical Thinking Program in Pakistan.

Author

• Nargis Sultana, Education program manager