KARACHI: Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister retired Justice Maqbool Bagar has emphasised that the teaching profession is the backbone of any nation and a strong teaching workforce is crucial for the sustainable development of any country.

He was speaking at the inaugural convocation ceremony for the first cohort of graduate teachers who successfully completed their four-year Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) degree programme from Durbeen-managed Government Elementary College of Education(GECE)HussainabadonSaturday.

`A nation`s sustainable development is reliant on the strength of its teachers who have the potential to shape the future and elevate society,` he observed.

He mentioned that Durbeen took over GECE in 2019 through a public-private partnership, and today, they were seeing the posi-tive results of that collaboration. `These graduates not only excelled in their studies but also secured positions that are comparable to those of entry-level banking and medical professionals,` he said.

He said that government schools were a symbol of the power of education, where all students were given equal opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic background, to enable social mobility.

He said that he felt honoured to mention that all graduates, after acquiring their teaching licences, would be qualified to become government teachers, given their competence as alumni of this training college.

`They are now the driving force behind the educational landscape and are imparting knowledge to shape the minds of tomorrow at esteemed institutions such as the two Zindagi Trust Government Schools,` he added.

He added that choosing to teach in government schools reflected a dedication to uplift society.

He further mentioned that the graduates, as the torchbearers of Durbeen`s commitment to quality education, had the potential to redefine and elevate the status of teaching in Pakistan.

Justice Baqar also said that despite thechallenges faced by society, such as brain drain and social disparities, it is of utmost importance to instil a sense of purpose among the masses that goes beyond personal success.

While praising the graduates for their academic accomplishments and commitment to education`s transformative power, he said that he believed that the graduates must embrace the ideals of nation-building, contribute to a larger cause and shoulder the responsibility of social change.

The convocation marked a significant milestone in the journey of these educators while underscoring the commitment to excellence in the teaching profession. The event was a celebration of their hard work, dedication, and the successful completion of their academic journey at GECE Hussainabad.

All these graduates are currently employed at Zindagi Trust Schools -the SMB Fatima Jinnah Government Girls` School and Khatoon-i-PakistanGovernmentGirls`School.

This adds a practical dimension to their academic achievements, as they are actively contributing to the educational landscape in their roles within these reputable institutions.

The convocation was also attended by caretaker Sindh Education Minister RanaHussain, Karachi University Vice Chancellor Dr Khalid Iraqi, Mohammad Ali Tabba, Durbeen CEO Salma Alam, Shahzad Roy and others.

Earlier this month, the Sindh government has initiated the implementation of the Sindh Teaching Licence Policy by opening up fresh positions for Elementary School Teachers, who are eligible to teach grades 1-8, acrossthe province.

These new job opportunities will exclusively be available to graduates of the B.

Ed degree programme who have also successfully passed the licensing examination, in accordance with the principles outlined in the Sindh Teaching Licence Policy and will now be recruited at BPS-16 instead of BPS-14.