ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: USAID has granted a four-year $60 million award to the Research Triangle Institute for the implementation of its Education Sector Reform Assistance (ESRA) project for Pakistan.

According to a Press release of USAID issued here on Monday, the ESRA has been designed around Pakistan‘s Education Sector Reforms strategy and the government of Pakistan‘s devolution programme. Although, national in scope, the ESRA will focus on Sindh and Baluchistan as priority regions.

“The grant focuses on improving the ability of more than 50,000 private and public sector teachers to utilize more effective teaching methodologies, shifting from rote-learning to teaching methodologies that promote inquiry and critical thinking skills.”

According to the release, the ESRA would emphasise strengthening the capacity of public and private Pakistani institutions in bringing about significant change in access, efficiency, accountability and quality in education. Many Pakistani non-government organizations in the education sector will receive sub-grants as part of this programme. The award is part of USAID‘s $100 million assistance for education in Pakistan, supporting the goal of enabling all Pakistani children to gain access to education.