Microsoft Pakistan to train 4500 teachers in the Punjab province
September 2009 - The Education Department, Government of Punjab, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Pakistan under the company’s “Partners in Learning” global program. This collaboration aims to provide schools, governments and partners with resources, training, expertise and technology blueprints that will help create institutions to better prepare students for life and work in the 21st century. Both parties will work cooperatively to participate in a four-year program from 2009 till 2013.
The program recognizes the value of providing technology to schools and seeks to jointly provide access to and improve use of information and communication technology (ICT) for the support of teaching and learning.
It was decided under the MoU that Microsoft’s and the Education Department’s associates will provide a joint report to Government of Punjab and Microsoft every 90 days. The report will provide an assessment of the purpose, progress and impact of ‘Partners in learning program’ in Punjab, Pakistan.
Michael Robinson, GM Public Sector, Microsoft MEA, flew down to Pakistan to personally thank the Chief Minster and Government of Punjab to select Microsoft as their partner in this massive reform program. Michael articulated that, “Microsoft has always believed that investing in education is the best way to help young people achieve their potential. We are hand in hand in this program with the Education Department, Government of Punjab to ensure that students receive practical education of information technology that can help them get jobs in the market.”
According to the MoU, Microsoft will provide four weeks of internship to 4 students suggested by the Government of Punjab every year through Microsoft’s certified partners in Pakistan.
Sayed Hashish, Director Public Sector, Microsoft North Africa, East Med and Pakistan, stated that, “Over the past few years, technology has become a need in every field. Microsoft, realizing the challenges that institutions in Pakistan face to implement a quality technology program, came up with a very unique plan. We believe that importance of computer literacy cannot be overstated as technology continues to accelerate globally. Hence, this partnership between Government of Punjab and Microsoft is a worthwhile approach and will help the education system here in the long run.”
Kamal Ahmed, Country General Manager, Microsoft Pakistan, while giving his views regarding the partnership remarked that, “We are thrilled to collaborate with the Punjab Government on the project that will build a knowledge economy for Pakistan. We have always believed that by working with Government to create relevant training opportunities and innovating tools for people can help foster social and economic opportunities that change people's lives and transform communities.”
He further added that, “Microsoft aspires to introduce education related solutions which will enable the community of students and educators to realize their potential through the power of technology and to remove the barriers in the effective use of technology”.
Through its unlimited potential commitment, Microsoft is working with governments, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations and industry partners in order to meet its first major milestone by 2015, that is, to reach the next 1 billion people who have not yet realized the benefits of technology.
