The Sindh Education Foundation (SEF), Government of Sindh acknowledges that human resource is one of its prized assets in its commitment to providing education for all. Thus, SEF has always been a strong proponent of creating an environment of continuous learning for the growth and development of its employees and stakeholders. It believes that for sustaining the element of innovation and creativity in institutional endeavors, capacity building needs to be an ongoing process.
To achieve this aim, forums such as seminars, advocacy events and capacity development opportunities created through discourses and trainings are organized at regular intervals by the organization. These avenues seek to generate a lifelong learning environment that values diversity in inherent processes and in channels of education and development.
The Critical Discourse sessions, organized by SEF's Marketing, Advocacy and Publications Unit, feature talks/discussions by reputable experts belonging to diverse backgrounds who offer a unique opportunity to learn from their wide range of perspectives and experiences.
Rafiq Dossani
Pakistan's Way forward in the face of Globalization
March 7, 2012
Rafiq Dossani is a senior research scholar at Stanford University's Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center (Shorenstein APARC) and erstwhile director of the Stanford Center for South Asia. His research interests include South Asian security, government, higher education, technology, and business.
Earlier, Dossani worked for the Robert Fleming Investment Banking group, first as CEO of its India operations and later as head of its San Francisco operations. He also previously served as the chairman and CEO of a stock broking firm on the OTCEI stock exchange in India, as the deputy editor of Business India Weekly, and as a professor of finance at Pennsylvania State University.
Dossani illustrates the difference between the educational styles of the west and the east, whereby he says that the western style encourages independent thinking while the system used in the east places emphasis on rote learning which is detrimental to the future of the student. He correlates workforce readiness to tertiary education and finds Pakistan lacking severely towards that end. He says that faculty requirements need to be drastically improved and the role of the state should be to provide funding and to set educational priorities.
Al-Karim Datoo
Globalization, Media and Youth Identities
March 1, 2012
Dr. Al-Karim Datoo, an accomplished educator and researcher, did his Masters in Educational Research Methodology from the University of Oxford, England in 1998 and PhD in Cultural Sociology of Education from McGill University, Canada, in 2009. He specializes in Sociology of globalization and education, Critical/ethnography, Qualitative research methodology and Social studies. Al-Karim is currently a Senior Research Associate and an Instructor at AKU-IED. He also serves as a Consultant for UNESCO and is Visiting Faculty for the University of Karachi.
Dr. Datoo's PhD thesis has been nominated by the Department of Integrated Studies in Education, McGill- for "Distinguished Awards" (Canada) and he has also received the AKF International Scholar award for his work.
Al-Karim states that in today's world no one lives in isolation and that people nowadays are more connected than ever from a global standpoint due to technology. He illustrates how the ever increasing exposure to varied media takes effect on our culture through the interaction between the global and the local. He examines what is conceived to be 'Modern' and what is termed as 'Traditional' and the implication of this merging on different aspects such as social relationships and the role of women.
Al-Karim also explores the role of education in this negotiation of cultures.
Arfa Syeda Zehra
The importance of Language in Education
March 1, 2012
Arfa Syeda Zehra has been a Professor for over forty years and has been intimately associated with issues dealing with women's education and empowerment. She continues to teach as visiting faculty. Presently, Arfa serves as Chair of the National Commission on the Status of Women, Government of Pakistan. This puts her at the center of discussions about socio-cultural issues in national and international policies that focus on the empowerment of women.
Arfa got her doctorate in History from the University of Hawaii in 1983 and was a fellow at the East-West Center between 1978 and 1983. She is a member of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, a Federal Government institution, established under an Ordinance (XIV) of 1979.
Arfa calls attention to the role language plays in the education of an individual. She emphasizes on the fact that Urdu is not being given the respect it deserves as our mother tongue and talks about the misconstrued notions that only those taught in English are thought to be well educated. She stresses on the importance of teaching the students in their mother tongue early on in their education which will ground the concepts more firmly in their minds than if done in any other language. Arfa also calls for schools to be a place of tolerance and putting an end to demarcation based on statuses.
Fatima Suraiya Bajia
Learning outside the Conventional Paradigm
November 16, 2011
Fatima Suraiya Bajia's powerful views on education, culture and society and the role of family in the upbringing of children has made her a household name. As a renowned Urdu novelist, playwright and drama writer of Pakistan, Bajia is loved throughout the country and people from all generations love, admire and respect her equally. As a playwright Bajia has written many endearing television serials. She is also an educator, a social worker and a person with a treasure of wisdom, indigenous knowledge and a wit to match. She has never attended a formal school and has been educated at home.
Bajia has been awarded various awards at home and abroad including Pakistan's Presidential Pride of Performance, Japan's highest civil award "Order of the Sacred Treasure – Gold Rays with Rosette" in recognition of her works. She also remained Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh.
At the Critical Discourse Session, Bajia shares her powerful views on education, culture and society with a focus on learning outside the conventional educational paradigm. Her talk highlights the importance of reviewing the present education system and enriching the learning environment for children that underlines our own cultural and social needs; which she feels is paramount in moving forward towards a social change.
Agha Salim
The Works of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai
July 26, 2011
Agha Saleem is a well known story writer, novelist and playwright of Sindhi language. He has written various novels including Ondhahi Dharti Roshan Hath'a and Hama Oost. One of his most renowned poetry books is Pan Chhann Khan Poe. His latest work is the extensive translation into English & Urdu of the Melodies of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a legendary Sufi saint known for his philosophy of love expressed through poetry.
At the Critical Discourse Session, Mr. Agha Saleem highlights the theme of Love & Peace expressed in the great poet's magnum opus and draws comparisons from works of other poets and writers on similar themes. He also discusses the challenges he faced in translating such a great body of work and his efforts in capturing the essence of the words the way they are meant to be understood rather than just the literal meanings. He says that the poetry of Bhittai has sprouted from the soil of Sindh and that translating it is like translating the entire province, its history, geography, folklore, culture and civilization whose roots are deep down in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Atta-ur-Rahman
The role of Knowledge in Socio-Economic Development
June 16, 2011
Prof. Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman is a leading scientist and scholar in the field of organic chemistry from Pakistan, especially renowned for his research in the various areas relating to natural product chemistry. He is the first scientist from the Muslim world to have won the prestigious UNESCO Science Prize (1999). He holds a Ph.D. degree in organic chemistry from Cambridge University (1968). He has made tremendous contribution to the field of science and education and furthered its use for the good of humanity. His scientific contributions are internationally recognized, and widely appreciated.
Dr. Atta has been the Federal Minister for Science and Technology and Federal Minister of Education and Chairman of the Higher Education Commission. His civil awards include Tamgha-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Nishan-i-Imtiaz and Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeischen am Bande - the highest Austrian civil award.
Dr. Atta discusses the wondrous world of science, his experience of transforming Higher Education in Pakistan, building knowledge based economy and his experiences in relation to the world of Chemistry. His talk promotes knowledge partnerships, building synergies between policy and practice and to engage in generative learning. He emphasizes on how knowledge has become the key factor in the process of socio-economic development, and how to achieve this each country must have a clear road map.
Khurram Ali Shafique
The "Mainstream" Model of Self-Development: Shakespeare, Bhittai & Iqbal
May 31, 2011
Khurram Ali Shafique is a historian, educationist and playwright. He is currently working as a research consultant for Iqbal Academy Pakistan (Federal Ministry of Culture) on projects related to the life and works of Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, including a five-volume comprehensive biography, the first volume of which was Damadam Ravan Hai Yam-i-Zindagi while the second is in the final stages of preparation. He has also contributed over 200 articles to the national press on history, feminism, literature, cinema and other related issues.
As an educationist, Shafique has worked as a visiting lecturer, teacher-trainer and consultant for curriculum development with various institutions including Teachers' Resource Centre, Beaconhouse Schools System, Aga Khan Education Service-Pakistan and Hamdard Institute of Management Sciences.
He shares his understanding of Iqbal, Shakespeare & Bhittai in the light of their real message that he feels has been obscured under the fog of intelligentsia and academics. He discusses the thoughts behind the works of the three renowned poets, taking a coherent and holistic view that is rarely used and which serves as a refreshing take on the subject matter of poetry.
Dr. Kaisar Bengali
The Impact of Economic Crisis on Social Development
April 20, 2011
Dr. Bengali is an economist by training and a seasoned professional who serves as an Advisor on Planning to the Chief Minister, Government of Sindh. He is well-acknowledged for his dedication and commitment towards improving the economic conditions in the province in order to lessen the burden of the population who face daunting living conditions.
His talk at the SEF forum highlights the influence of economics on social development especially in the areas of education and health; the causes why different segments of society compromise on quality; and how economics and policy determine the standards of social services. . He elaborates on how economic development means not only changes in a nation's physical environment (new transportation and communications facilities, new schools, new housing, new plants and equipment) but also changes in the way people think, behave, and associate with one another.
Tasneem Siddiqui
The Spirit of Self-Reliance
March 9, 2011
Mr. Tasneem Siddiqui, an icon of low cost housing for urban poor, was born in Meerut and brought up in Sukkur. He has served under various government positions including Chief Secretary, Government of Sindh and Director General, Hyderabad Development Authority amongst others. His involvement with Urban Development Institutions and close rapport with urban poor led him to establish the first citizen organization (CO), Saiban (shelter) in 1991. Through Saiban he has introduced a model popularly know as 'Khuda ki Basti' which provides urban squatters and low-income groups in Pakistan with access to affordable home ownership and essential amenities. In recognition of his ground breaking performance in the field he has received many national and International awards.
Mr. Siddiqui shares his invaluable experience of envisioning, developing and managing self-reliance schemes and creating innovative solutions to deliver extraordinary results for improving the lives of millions of people through housing, land reforms and urban development. He also talks about the various aspects of community led development towards identification of solutions and services particularly in the areas of health, education and general awareness.
Fahmida Riaz
The Intricacies of Urdu Literature
February 3, 2011
Born in Meerut, India, and educated in Hyderabad and London, Fahmida Riaz is counted among the front rank of writers and poets of Urdu. She has been writing poetry and stories since the age of 15 and has been involved in social and political activism since her college days. A published poet and writer, her books have been translated into English, Hindi, Russian, German and French languages. She has received the Himmet-Helman award for resistance literature as well as the Al-Muftah award for poetry. The Government of Pakistan in recognition of her services to literature has presented her with the Presidential Pride of Performance for 2010 and the Sindh Government's Sheikh Ayaz Award for Literature.
At present she is the Director for the Urdu Dictionary Board, Karachi that has launched the 22 volume Urdu dictionary based on the philological principles (historical principles) that encompass 1,000 years of civilization of the subcontinent.
Fahmida Riaz's discusses her contribution to Urdu literature, her feminist struggle in Pakistan and more importantly aspects of her work as the Director of the Urdu Dictionary Project. She elaborates on what is entailed in writing a dictionary including the considerations to keep in mind regarding the organization of terms, criteria for selection of entries for written and unwritten languages with or without established grammatical traditions, lexicographers involved in the development process and more.
Rehana Mughni
Role of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan towards propagation of Education in the sub-continent
August 29, 2012
Prof. Rehana Mughni has been associated with the field of education for more than 40 years, first as a Professor of Political Science at Sir Syed Girls College and later at the Sindh Education Foundation as an adult education expert. She has consistently been an ardent supporter of the teachers' movement which worked for the cause of quality of education and fundamental rights of educators.
During her association with the Sindh Education Foundation for over a decade. Prof. Mughni has extensively worked for the cause of adult education for women in marginalized communities of Sindh. As Program Advisor at SEF, she has introduced multiple andragogical approaches for extending education for all and has done extensive work at the field level, training adult learning facilitators and educating women learners. She has also authored several educational books & stories and pioneered the Sahil Primary School, where more than 150 underprivileged children are provided free education.
At SEF's discourse session, Prof. Rehana Mughni talks about Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, an educational visionary and reformer who changed the face of the sub-continent landscape and more specifically the future of Muslims. She discusses the impact Sir Syed had in making Muslims understand the significance of modern education and its necessity in standing on their own and living a dignified life. Prof. Rehana Mughni shares her views on how Sir Syed's ideology holds true even today and how it is an essential component for progress and prosperity of the Nation.
Sohail Muhammad Ali
Zen Koan and the Art of Zen Learning
October 23, 2012
Sohail Muhammad Ali has been working in the social development, corporate and education sectors since 1990 and has had extensive experience as a consultant and trainer. He has worked with numerous reputable organizations such as USAID, Actionaid, Care International, Geo TV, Telenor Pakistan, Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan (AKF), British Council Pakistan, and Human Resource Development Network (HRDN) to name a few. As a consultant he has talked on subjects such as Gender & Development, Social mobilization, Communication Skills, Semiotics of Organizational Structure & Culture, Conflict Resolution, Resource mobilization, Project Cycle Management and other social development and psychosocial related topics.
At the session, Mr. Muhammad Ali talks about 'Zen Koan' and its function in the art of Zen learning. He explains that as an eastern perspective of wisdom, Koans are very powerful tools especially designed to open the mind that has been closed by habitual responses to the world and reality. He elaborates on Koans as a method of training the mind in order to achieve the state of 'Satori', or awakened mind. Mr. Muhammad Ali explains Koans as simple teaching instruments, an aid to self inquiry and realization, to be used to break down the barriers to enlightenment.
Arshad Mahmud
The Value and Quality of Arts Education
November 21, 2012
Arshad Mahmud, an iconic figure in the field of arts, graced the Sindh Education Foundation's recently held capacity building session for staff members. Mahmud is currently Director Programmes and Administration of National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), a pioneering performing arts institution in the country.
The talk highlighted the need for spreading the message of peace and tolerance in a society which is leaning heavily towards prejudice and aggression. The speaker emphasized education to be taken up as a responsibility towards the future generations. He explained further that due to the ever changing technologies there is a good chance that 80 percent of what children learn today might become obsolete 20 years from now when they join the workforce. Hence it is essential that creativity in children be encouraged through the Arts which enable them to cope with the fast-changing environment, Arshad accentuated during the lecture. He believed that children who are encouraged towards the arts and have the freedom to be creative can grow up to be adults who can adapt to diverse environments by creating different solutions rather than adhering to a set of rigid rules and regulations, thus insulating them against 'Future Shock'. The speaker also underlined how the arts such as music are useful as instruments of learning. He cited examples of how children have learnt better through improved recall aligned to musical beats since music has the ability to organize the mind and improve the concentration and enhance attention to detail.
Karim Aman
Impact of Modernity on Islamic Intellectual Discourse
December 13, 2012
Karim Aman, an educationist of repute, graduated from the Karakorum International University – Gilgit and is a distinction holder in M.ED. (Educational Leadership and Management) from the Aga Khan University. Mr. Karim has remained committed to the cause of education and has developed and delivered numerous lectures and presentations on personal development and leadership, community development, history and historical thinking, dynamics of Islamic issues, ethics, civil society, interfaith harmony and peace building.
During the talk Mr. Karim shared ideas on how Muslims have "reconstructed" their religious interpretations in accordance to their changing understanding of their world. He also illuminated the transition of Muslim society towards modernity in the context of the changing empirical, rational and spiritual landscape. Furthermore, the speaker offered insight on how elements of western modernity (political, intellectual, cultural and material modernity) have influenced Muslim societies and presented the educational movements which were initiated by various Muslim scholars in response to the growing change.
Mr. Mohammad Rais Alvi
Poetry across Cultures
January 9, 2013
Prof. Mohammad Rais Alvi has been a stalwart supporter for the cause of education for over 4 decades and has remained dedicated to bringing the light of education to his fellow countrymen as well as on an international stage. Prof. Rais has served as the Registrar at Karachi University and the Executive District Officer (E.D.O.) Karachi. He has been a Professor over the years at various educational institutes in Pakistan and also in Japan where he was a Guest Professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Here he wrote and translated many Japanese works and publications in collaboration with academics from Japan.
Prof. Rais, given his extensive international experience with the Japanese culture and writings, speaks on the subject of 'Poetry across Cultures'. He shares his vast experience on translating various works of Japanese poetry and speaks at length on its intricacies. Prof. Rais continues to give an in-depth comparison between Urdu and Japanese poetry, expounding on the similarities and differences in artisic thought between the two societies.
Javed Sadiq
Effective Communication Skills
May 23, 2013
Javed Sadiq has served as Senior Advisor at the Foreign Diplomatic Mission and has had extensive experience in the work environment. Mr. Sadiq is currently a corporate trainer and a consultant in public affairs & social development.
During his discourse, Mr. Sadiq highlighted the importance of effective communication skills. The speaker shared the essentials of critical cutting edge communication tools utilized to be understood better both on a personal and professional level. Mr. Sadiq's talk and sharing of ideas originated from experiences culled from more than forty-two years of interaction mostly in public diplomacy with people of varied cultures and religions. The lecture was a great opportunity for the SEF staff to learn the role that communication plays in creating a greater consciousness in society.
Karim Aman & Dr. Faizeh Zehra Mirza
Devotion to Persian Language
September 26, 2013
Karim Aman, an educationist of repute, graduated from the Karakorum International University, Gilgit and is a distinction holder in M.ED. (Educational Leadership and Management) from the Aga Khan University. Dr. Faizeh is a Ph. D. from the University of Tehran in Iran on the Persian language and currently the Assistant Professor, Department of Persian, at the University of Karachi.
Karim Aman and Dr. Faizeh Zehra Mirza discuss in detail the Persian language and its role in literature and poetry. The speakers talk about the impact of the Persian civilization in the history of the world and its vast social influence in all different societies including the west. Mr. Karim and Dr. Faizeh relate the Persian Language to spiritualism in the context of Islam and discuss at length the influence of the Persian language on world famous poets such as Rumi, Sheikh Sadi and Allama Iqbal.
Qazi Abdul Jaleel
Education and Awareness
December 23, 2013
Qazi Abdul Jaleel, also known as Amar Jaleel, is a renowned Sindhi fiction writer and a popular columnist for Dawn and The Nation. Amar Jaleel has been writing stories, novels, essays and creative columns in English and Sindhi languages since 1955.
Mr. Jaleel explores the time of partition and the way it is reflected in the textbooks in the form of hardships and adversities faced by the Muslims of the subcontinent. He points out that the Hindus and Sikhs at the same time were equally hurt and offended but the curriculum fails to address the issue which leads to infinite feelings of abhorrence and hatred in the hearts of the people. He also sheds light on the fact that Urdu language got most affected by the decision of partition.
Arfana Mallah, Amar Sindhu & Hafeez Kumbhar
Role of Women in Sindhi Literature
March 5th, 2014
Arfana Mallah is a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Sindh, Pakistan. Mallah is a Human Rights activist and leader of the Women's Action Forum. Amar Sindhu, a Sindhi writer, is chairperson of Department of Philosophy at Sindh University, Jamshoro and is an active member of Women’s Action Forum. Hafeez Kumbhar is a renowned Sindhi poet, drama writer and an intellectual.
Arfana Mallah, Amar Sindhu and Hafeez Kunbher discuss in detail the perceived role of women in society and how they have been portrayed within literature.
Dr. Farid Panjwani
Education, Imagination and Ethics
October 21, 2013
Dr. Farid Panjwani is a Senior Lecturer and Director, Centre for Research and Evaluation in Muslim Education, Institute of Education, University of London.
During his talk Dr. Panjwani says that humanity is not only a biological but a cultural process. He explains that unlike biology which one inherits, culture is a matter of choice and education is a cultural entity. He holds that culture in turn comes from the fact that we have the power of imagination. He states that imagination is not something that should be bound and the way to guide its consequences is to develop a symbiotic relationship between imagination and ethics.
Dr. Zaria Wahab
Attitudes at Work
June 27, 2014
Dr. Zaria Wahab holds a PhD in Educational Studies, and is at the moment an associate professor in the departments of Management Sciences, and Education and Learning Sciences at Iqra University.
Dr. Wahab’s session focuses on the ‘Attitudes at Work’ where she talks about the proper behavior to have at the work place. She talks about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and behavior and taking ownership of the work one does. This she says came from initiating change from the inside out and through taking responsibility and control over your actions.
