PESHAWAR: Speakers urged joint contribution educationists and parents can make, using appropriate sources of learning and development, latest research, better networking amongst peers and a will to make learning a fun activity for the thought leaders of tomorrow.
During third Early Years Thought Leaders symposium at the Peshawar club, experts provided parents a chance to learn how to support the work of learning specialists. They discussed the learning needs at the most critical period of learning and development for a child.
Among the panelists were Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, Dr. Sadia Shafique, Ms. Nuzhat Rauf, Ms. Nancy Jamshed, Ms. Shamama Arbab Kakakhel and Mr. Raja Zia ul Haq.
The panelists were of the view that educationists in the field and parents joined hands to raise awareness on the importance of early learning and development for future generations in Pakistan. The City School (TCS), a pioneer and highly-regarded thought leader in early years education, has organised Pakistan’s first-ever series of symposia across the country.
The event generated a lot of interest amongst the participants which included young parents, notable dignitaries, educationists, civil society members, officers of the armed forces, heads of schools, representatives of local colleges and leaders in the field of Education.
The City School Regional Director North Ms. Shireen Jawaid welcomed the guests and stated, “Our concern has always been that children are provided with high quality accessible early years education.
The City School Early Years has campaigned over the past year to improve the admissions process and in turn the access to preschool provision for all children across Pakistan. We are pleased that on the recommendations of the Marketing department this admissions cycle will have an improved communications strategy for parents and greater clarity on how to access and identify an early year program for their children. We hope this will improve the experience of parents seeking high quality pre-school education for their children.” The City School (TCS) promotes and advocates the highest quality professional development for all early years’ educators in order to enhance the educational well-being of its youngest students. Expert panelists provided parents a chance to learn how to support the work of TCS early years programmes. They discussed the learning needs at the most critical period of learning and development for a child.
The conference explored a range of topics from the importance of play in early years to the significance of quality systems, alongside stressing the need of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. The programme included seminars, interactive sessions and role-play areas with the aim to provide professional development for early years’ practitioners.
The symposium started with a plenary session followed by workshops named as The Inclusion in the 21st Century, Parenting Up, High Quality Writing Instructions and Story Time to discuss the evolution of Early Years Education. While discussing the purpose of the symposium, General Manager Early Years Education, Ms. Tayyaba Amer said, “We believe that children learn best in an environment which allows them to explore, discover, and play.
Play is also closely tied to the development of cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical behaviours. This symposium is a small step in that direction and will help create awareness about the importance and need of play and how trained teachers can make learning fun for the little ones.” Practical strategies, insightful tips and professional resource networking remained the key elements of the workshops as participants shared, reflected and discussed their understanding of practices in Early Years’ Education.
The symposium provided early childhood professionals with the tools, resources and support they need to further develop their expertise and contribution in the lives of children. The City School vision places childhood at the center of practice and pedagogy for the early years. The symposium ventured into new territory that brought diverse perspectives, evidence-based practice, traditions and new thinking together.
