Just to clarify, the residency approach was suggested for teaching degrees, like B.Ed, and not just for a PhD. It is our view that it should part of the basic training for a teacher just as it is for a doctor.

With regards to the PhD-level research, in addition to what I mentioned in my comment above, my personal view is that we need it in education also because we haven’t quite figured out how to create an education system that’s in sync with our values, our history and our desire to progress scientifically, technologically, etc. In this sense, I think we need it MORE than, say, the US needs it at the moment. They had their Scopes Trials almost a century ago; we never did. So, we never truly accepted or rejected the world view that has resulted in the scientific and technological progress of the West. That’s an exercise we need to have, and it’s my view that it can best be guided by experts, especially those in education.

So, it’s not just coming up with “New Math” kind of stuff … it’s something more fundamental.

secondly, though we do not have many Teacher education institutions doing research, but as the author mentioned about Ali institute Lahore, so are few in Karachi like Notre Dame Institute of Education, Karachi (http://www.ndie.edu.pk) and Aga Khan University-Institute for Educational Development(AKU-IED) are also doing their best in developing research papers in education.

overall i am not very satisfied with the teacher education in Paksitan. Teachers are the back born of the educational system, quality teachers will produce quality students and can teach to bring awareness in society rather than just to follow rules….

1) Research will certainly add value interms of enhancing our understanding and expanding the breadth and depth of knowhow leading to informing policy and better *decision making in the field (among other areas, depending upon the focus *of research).

2) However, it will not by default lift the *standard of education and practice in Pakistan..

If we interpret a PHD program in its conventional means and emphasize purely on research, it may not necessarily add to practically improving practice in the field, atleast not with the pace, breadth or conviction urgently needed.

Research will certainly add value interms of enhancing our understanding and expanding the breadth and depth of knowhow leading to informing policy and better to decision making in the field (among other areas, depending upon the focus on research).

However, it may not by default lift the status of education and practice in Pakistan or any other country for that matter, regardless of what the focus of research may be.

The residency approach (1-2 years as part of the doctorate?), entailing a ’surgeon type’ learning program seems like a good bet, along with elements of research in the overall program. In business schools role playing and reflective exercises are pedagogical tools used to enhance learning outcomes of students, something which could be effectively utilized in improving the standard of education in Pakistan (across the board- from content to pedagogy to policy).

Hence, research + practice together have to be the essence of an effective program.

But, there are notable exceptions too. For example, I know that there’s some great work being done in education for Autistic children, and in general work done on education for special needs children has been helped by excellent education programs. Also, let’s not forget that one of the more refreshing ideas in education of the past decade or so (in the US) is Teach For America, which came straight out of Wendy Kopp’s undergraduate thesis on education.

Also, what’s interesting is that many schools of education in the US have responded to the kinds of concern that you’ve raised. They’ve altered their programs to focus more on education policy or education administration, rather only research on teaching methods.

Finally, I’d say that Omar & Yaser too have very valid points — we may not need research in new teaching methods for, say, elementary maths, but we certainly need a brain-trust to formulate strategies and make policy recommendations that fit out unique challenges. Besides, in this piece, we’re not arguing for granting PhDs in education at every nook and corner, but that at least there be ’some’ places that are engaged in serious work on a consistent basis on this most important topic. In fairness, may be Ali Institute of Education (www.aie.edu.pk) is doing some research but for this piece I wasn’t able to establish the quality and quantity of their research. If you are familiar with their work, or for that matter work done elsewhere, please do comment on that.

can go a long way in improving the state of education in Pakistan. I think starting research oriented education programs would be a positive step towards analyzing and solving these issues.

Courses that cover the cognitive abilities of young children often present the disproved theories of Piaget. And the New Math was not enough of a disaster, now the New New Math is being promoted to make sure that the next generation will not be able to add or subtract.