Islamabad, February 23, 2009 - United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director, Ms. Anne Aarnes congratulated the Ministry of Education for the launch of Pakistan's National Professional Standards for Teachers program.

"With the introduction of these standards, Pakistan today embarks on the journey which will enhance teachers' knowledge of the profession and improve their teaching skills. In return, their students will be better educated and well prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century," said Ms. Aarnes at the launching ceremony. The launching ceremony followed by a workshop was jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and UNESCO under the Strengthening Teacher Education in Pakistan (STEP) project funded by USAID.

To improve the quality of teachers, and subsequently the quality of education for students, the STEP program has supported the Ministry of Education and the Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (ACTE), under Higher Education Commission, to develop standards for teachers and teacher education programs. The STEP program also aims to build a framework, for quality assurance mechanism, based on established standards.

Since 2002, the US Government has provided more than $2 billion to Pakistan for improvements in economic growth, education, health, governance, assistance in earthquake reconstruction, and lately for the internally displaced people who have fled their homes owing to floods and then military operations in Bajaur Agency.