Sindh Board Of Technical Education

The Training And Resources Of Sindh

Sindh Board of technical education notified that whatever talk of economic gain were rumored all over doesn't minimize the huge role teachers themselves and their instructional methods play in making programs popular.

G. Hussain cites his consortium's diversified health occupations program, which always has waiting lists. The No. 1 factor in its success, he says, is positive word of mouth generated by a "very knowledgeable, very creative teacher who works extra hard to have interesting, fun, meaningful activities"--such as fashioning spinal columns with Styrofoam, sponge discs and telephone cable; and making faux time-release capsules with cake sprinkles.

One of the biggest selling points of the electronics program in Sindh district is an instructor who excels at individualizing instruction to meet each student's needs. "We get kids in there who want to be electricians, or who want to be computer gurus, and he really takes them to whatever their goal is," says president of sindh board of technical education.

Rehana Bano's high-tech labs and industry-certified programs are certainly big reasons the school's two campuses are booming--with nearly 800 secondary, 32,000 short-term adult, 1,000-plus full-time adult and almost 14,000 industry employee students. But the fuel in the school's engines is "an entrepreneurial spirit in our staff and instructors that's supported by the administration," says marketing director. In mulling new programs and approaches, "our board cultivates innovation--they tell us if you aren't failing once or twice a year you aren't taking enough new risks," she marvels. "It's awesome."

Whatever the approach, it's accountability that sells technical programs in the long run, Ali Hussain contends. In his shop, students punch time cards and their productivity is monitored. Ali demands "an honest day's work for an honest day's pay"--with "pay" equating to letter grades. His hard-nosed style prepares students for a real world in which "they won't be cut any breaks," he says, adding, "They come back and thank me in a few years."

Another winning recipe for boosting enrollments, Johnson advises, is giving teens a sense of ownership. His students run an auto detail shop, with proceeds going toward field trips, other class activities and community outreach such as sponsoring underprivileged families for Thanks giving. The detail shop is a really neat thing they do, and he think it's a contributing factor to attracting young people [to the program].

Ali Hussain works at well-equipped Automotive repair training centre, and his recognition last year as I-CAR's [the Inter-industry Conference on Automotive Repair] High School Teacher of the Year has brought his program further recognition and dollars. He stresses, however, that when it comes to maintaining and increasing enrollments--as in so many other areas of life--money only goes so far.

"There's a lot of good training going on and there are a lot of good organizations out there that don't have half the resources we have," Hussain says. "I came from one and I may go back to one. It's really a matter of how you promote your word of mouth and the reputation you develop. I don't care what your budget is. It's a matter of the enthusiasm, motivation and energy you create through your program, and the intensity you express to your students that this is a good career area to be in."