ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: A batch of 250 teachers from different schools and colleges would leave for the United States from January 12 and 15 for advanced teachers training.

Two groups of the teacher-educators comprising 26 principals and 26 master trainers would depart for the United States on January 12 and 15. "The government has fulfilled its commitment by sending these teachers for state-of-the-art training," said Education Minister Zubaida Jalal while talking to newsmen here on Thursday.

The minister said in the first phase more than 250 teachers would be trained for four-month certificate courses in science, mathematics and English at the University of Montana, George Mason University, University of Fairfax and the University of Virginia. These teachers were selected from all over the country without discrimination, she said.

The education minister said even the teachers from FATA, AJK and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) would benefit from the training.

Under this capacity building project, the teacher-educators would receive training in the above universities in teaching, pedagogy, planning, leadership communication and computer skills. They will also have an opportunity to visit the US schooling system and other teacher training facilities during the training.

The minister said this step would be a milestone in the country's education sector, where besides the universities lecturers and professors, the college and school teachers would also be able to go abroad for equipping themselves with the latest teaching methods.

She said the government would send more and more teachers to different developed countries for training and expressed the hope that this incentive would encourage the teachers from the public and the private sector to concentrate their energies on bringing an educated and enlightened lot out of the schools.

She said no nepotism would be entertained in the exercise, as it was for the first time in the history of the country that such bold initiative had been taken by the government. "We do not want to ruin this project by showing favouritism in the selection of the teachers," she added.

She warned the teachers against approaching her in this regard and made it clear to them that it was not a pleasure trip, as a proper report had to be submitted by them soon after their visit.