Gilgit-Baltistan govt presents first-ever “Friends of Education Award” to Aga Khan University’s PDCN

​GILGIT: The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has appreciated the importance of initiatives launched by Aga Khan University’s Institute of Educational Development (IED) in the region by presenting it with two honours, including the first-ever Friends of Education award.

The awards were given by Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman to the local arm of the IED, the Professional Development Centre, North (PDCN), at the Gilgit-Baltistan Department of Education’s annual awards ceremony, Salam Teacher Day.

Over the past 19 years, the PDCN has implemented a number of wide-ranging educational development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan, in partnership with local government as well as national and international development agencies.

These initiatives such as the five-year Educational Development and Improvement Programme have transformed the infrastructure and teaching standards of hundreds of local schools, and improved the quality of education received by tens of thousands of students.

PDCN Head Dr Moladad Shafa also received an individual award at the event for his leadership of the institution. Describing the award as a “great honour”, Dr Shafa appreciated the role played by his colleagues at IED and partners in the public and private sector for helping enhance access to quality education in the area.

The event also saw a total of 15 local students, teachers and schools, who have benefited from progammes run by the PDCN, receive individual awards in recognition of their excellent performance over the 2018 academic year.

Programmes run by the IED across Pakistan aim to achieve similar targets to those envisioned under goal 4 of Sustainable Development Goals which call for steps to raise overall teaching standards in primary and secondary education, to enhance access to quality education and to eliminate gender disparities.