Umair Qureshi

executive director of Pakistan ASCD

Compiled from 1 recorded interview. Every statement below is drawn from the passage cited beside it.

Umair Qureshi is the executive director of Pakistan ASCD, an affiliate group of ASCD, and an educator with more than 20 years in education. Qureshi and his team set up Pakistan ASCD in 2015.

Early life and background

Qureshi says he lived in a hostel as a student. He says his home is in Lahore. [1]

Education

Qureshi studied engineering and then completed a master's degree. He completed a certification from Oxford in 2012 and a certification in instructional leadership at UMass Amherst in 2014. He also completed a certification in advanced education leadership at Harvard. He studied the education models of Singapore, South Africa and South Korea. [1]

Career

Qureshi began teaching at the early-years level and has also taught grade one. He worked as an A-level physics teacher and as an education researcher. He worked about 20 years in salaried roles, including as a teacher trainer and teacher. [1]

Qureshi says teaching is in his blood and he cannot give it up. He says he eventually decided he had to start his own organization and company. He says becoming a businessman in mid-career was hard for him, and that family obligations can limit how much business risk a person takes later in life. He also says not everyone should become a businessman. [1]

Pakistan ASCD

Qureshi says Pakistan ASCD has trained about 6,500 teachers on modern instruction practices. He says the ASCD affiliation brings intellectual support rather than funding. [1]

Thinking School

Qureshi says there are already 8,000 Thinking Schools in the world. He says Thinking School has two campuses in Islamabad and one in Peshawar, with six opening in Balochistan, and that it has franchises in Bahria Enclave and Peshawar. He says it plans to open 133 campuses across Pakistan within five years. Qureshi and his team planned the school for three years and obtained a licence for Pakistan from an international organisation. [1]

He says the Bahria Enclave campus has around 170 to 180 students and the model campus has around 75 or 76. He says Thinking School offers media studies from grade one and hired an American organization as its media studies consultant. He says it launched its Montessori system with 137 items, and that this is an authentic version of Maria Montessori's philosophy. [1]

Qureshi says Thinking School is meant to develop students as entrepreneurs and is based on Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. He says it teaches the same content in a way that makes sense to students. He says his team developed the curriculum up to grade 8, aligned with the National Curriculum, and that there is no provision for the IB. He says students can move to grade 9 after grade 8 into the local matric stream, and that Thinking School may add vocational training to its regular school. [1]

Views on education

Qureshi says the purpose of education is that what students learn should make sense in real life. He says the basic purpose of education is not to prepare children only for today, and that the focus is more on skills and real-life learning. He says he does not need a person's 600 A grades. He says children should learn practical skills such as welding and carpentry. [1]

Qureshi says Finland does not divide learning into separate subjects, and that life is integrated and is not divided into subjects. He says research shows homework has never produced learning. He says education in Pakistan is often pursued for social status. He suggests perhaps only 5 to 10 percent of students would go on to higher education, and says Pakistan does not need a million PhDs every year. He also says some research publishing is fake and done only to win promotions. [1]

Views on the education system in Pakistan

Qureshi says a major problem in Pakistan is that solutions are built before problems are identified. He says Pakistan has no parenting courses and that its education system follows a top-down model. He says the public education sector has collapsed. He says the private sector holds around 40 to 46 percent of the education sector's volume in Pakistan, and that the education system could not have advanced without the private sector. [1]

Qureshi says untrained teachers are a major issue in Pakistan, that Pakistan does not have a teacher licensing system, and that the current criterion for teaching is a B.Ed degree. He says LUMS does good work, but that its reach is small. He says lawmakers should bring educators' voices into the assembly to raise education standards, and that Pakistan urgently needs education legislation and regulation. [1]

Views on technology

Qureshi says technology is a personal area of interest for him. He says the problem with technology in schools is ethics and education, not the technology itself. He says technology has a proper way to be used, and teachers are not trained for it. [1]

Views on the Single National Curriculum

Qureshi says he sees the single national curriculum as little more than a government experiment. He says a curriculum does not mean textbooks. He says the national curriculum was produced in 2006 and revised in 2011 and 2017. He says the Single National Curriculum will take about two more decades to implement properly. He says Pakistan ranks around 123rd or 124th in an OECD education ranking, though he has not seen the latest report, and that a society's survival depends on diversity. [1]

Views on the economy

Qureshi says Pakistan has an undocumented, cash-based economy. He says educating people about paying tax is very important. He says about 70 percent of Pakistan's population lives in rural areas. [1]

Timeline

2012
Completed a certification from Oxford.[1]
2014
Completed a certification in instructional leadership at UMass Amherst.[1]
2015
Set up Pakistan ASCD with his team.[1]

Appearances

DateTitleWhere
2021-01-20 Education must develop entrepreneurs, not just job seekers Thought Behind Things

Frequently asked questions

Who is Umair Qureshi?

Umair Qureshi is the executive director of Pakistan ASCD, an affiliate group of ASCD. He has worked in education for more than 20 years.[1]

What does Umair Qureshi do?

Umair Qureshi is executive director of Pakistan ASCD. He has worked as an A-level physics teacher and as an education researcher.[1]

Where did Umair Qureshi study?

Umair Qureshi studied engineering and then completed a master's degree. He also completed certifications from Oxford in 2012, from UMass Amherst in 2014 and from Harvard.[1]

Where is Umair Qureshi from?

Qureshi says his home is in Lahore.[1]

When was Pakistan ASCD set up?

Umair Qureshi and his team set up Pakistan ASCD in 2015. Qureshi says it has trained about 6,500 teachers on modern instruction practices.[1]

What does Umair Qureshi think of the Single National Curriculum?

Umair Qureshi says he sees the single national curriculum as little more than a government experiment. He says it will take about two more decades to implement properly.[1]

What does Umair Qureshi say about teachers in Pakistan?

Umair Qureshi says untrained teachers are a major issue in Pakistan. He says Pakistan does not have a teacher licensing system and that the current criterion for teaching is a B.Ed degree.[1]

References

  1. Education must develop entrepreneurs, not just job seekers . Thought Behind Things , 2021-01-20.
Show the source passages (75 statements)
  1. He studied engineering and then completed a master's degree. I did engineering and I did my masters
  2. He has worked in education for more than 20 years. it's about 20 years, more than 20 years
  3. He began teaching at the early-years level and has also taught grade one. maine bada early years se shuru kiya tha padhana, grade one ko bhi padhaya
  4. He worked as an A-level physics teacher. maine padhaya as an A-level physics teacher
  5. He completed a certification from Oxford in 2012. in 2012 I went for a certification from Oxford
  6. He completed a certification in instructional leadership at UMass Amherst in 2014. in 2014 I went to UMass Amherst, wahan se meri ek certification thi in instructional leadership
  7. He completed a certification in advanced education leadership at Harvard. I did my certification in advanced education leadership from Harvard
  8. He worked as an education researcher. I worked as an education researcher
  9. He studied the education models of Singapore, South Africa and South Korea. Singapore model ko padha, South Africa, South Korea ko padha
  10. He says teaching is in his blood and he cannot give it up. teaching toh blood mein hoti hai, woh toh kabhi aap chhod nahi sakte
  11. He is executive director of Pakistan ASCD, an affiliate group of ASCD. I work as executive director of Pakistan ASCD, which is an affiliate group of ASCD
  12. He and his team set up Pakistan ASCD in 2015. humne Pakistani ASCD banaya in 2015
  13. He says Pakistan ASCD has trained about 6,500 teachers on modern instruction practices. Humne takreeban 6,500 teachers ko train kiya on modern instruction practices
  14. He says the ASCD affiliation brings intellectual support rather than funding. That doesn't mean we get funding or donations. This is intellectual support
  15. He says there are already 8,000 Thinking Schools in the world. duniya mein already 8,000 Thinking Schools maujood hain pehle se
  16. He and his team planned the school for three years and obtained a licence for Pakistan from an international organisation. me and my team planned for this school for three years and we got in license for Pakistan from Thinking School International
  17. He says Thinking School has two campuses in Islamabad and one in Peshawar, with six opening in Balochistan. At the moment we have two campuses in Islamabad and one in Peshawar and six campuses are opening in Balochistan
  18. He says Thinking School plans to open 133 campuses across Pakistan within five years. pure Pakistan mein hamara plan hai by in five years we will be opening 133 campuses
  19. He says Thinking School has franchises in Bahria Enclave and Peshawar. Toh hamari Bahria Enclave mein franchise hai, isi tarah Peshawar mein hamari franchise hai
  20. He says Thinking School offers media studies from grade one. humne media studies offer kiya right from grade one
  21. He says Thinking School hired an American organization as its media studies consultant. Hum ne specially ek organization, American organization hai un ko hum ne apna consultant liya
  22. He says the Bahria Enclave campus has around 170 to 180 students. Hamara jo Bahria Enclave wala campus hai, uski hai takreeban 170, 180 ki strength
  23. He says the model campus has around 75 or 76 students. Hamare paas jo hamara model campus hai, that is around 75, 76
  24. He says Thinking School launched its Montessori system with 137 items. Humne 137 items ke saath Montessori system launch kiya
  25. He says the Montessori system at Thinking School is an authentic version of Maria Montessori's philosophy. So it is authentic Maria Montessori philosophy that is being executed
  26. He says Thinking School is meant to develop students as entrepreneurs. this school is meant for developing the students as entrepreneurs
  27. He says Thinking School is based on Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences. this whole school is based on Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence
  28. He says the purpose of education is that what students learn should make sense in real life. purpose sirf itna sa hai ke jo aapko padhaya jaye uski koi real life mein sense bhi banti ho
  29. He says the basic purpose of education is not to prepare children only for today. bunyadi purpose Muzamil aaj ke baare mein bacho ko padhana nahi hai
  30. He says a major problem in Pakistan is that solutions are built before problems are identified. Pakistan mein ek bahut bada issue yeh hai ke Pakistan mein solution pehle banta hai, problem baad mein nikalta hai
  31. He says he does not need a person's 600 A grades. mujhe aapke 600 A grade ki zaroorat nahi hai
  32. He says the focus is more on skills and real-life learning. it's more about skills, it's more about the real life learning
  33. He says Thinking School may add vocational training to its regular school. we might embed a part of vocational training with the regular school
  34. He says children should learn practical skills such as welding and carpentry. usko welding sikha dein, usko aap carpenter ka kaam sikha dein
  35. He says Finland does not divide learning into separate subjects. Finland mein toh eight subjects alag alag hain hi nahi
  36. He says life is integrated and is not divided into subjects. Kyunki life is integrated. Life is not divided in eight subjects
  37. He says research shows homework has never produced learning. Halanki research kehti hai, yeh proven research hai ke homework se kabhi learning nahi hui
  38. He says education in Pakistan is often pursued for social status. Hamare yahan toh apna social status elevate karne ke liye li jaati hai
  39. He says Pakistan has no parenting courses. Pakistan mein parenting ke upar koi courses nahi hote
  40. He suggests perhaps only 5 to 10 percent of students would go on to higher education. usme se sirf 5%, 10% hain jo higher education ki taraf jayein
  41. He says Pakistan does not need a million PhDs every year. Aapko 1 million PhD har saal nahi chahiye
  42. He says some research publishing is fake and done only to win promotions. sirf aur sirf promotions lene ke liye fake publishing publishing ho rahi hai
  43. He says the public education sector has collapsed. public sector to collapse kar gaya
  44. He says the private sector holds around 40 to 46 percent of the education sector's volume in Pakistan. 40 45 46 percent hamara private sector hai jo ke total educational sector ka volume hold karta hai
  45. He says the education system could not have advanced without the private sector. agar private sector na hota to is mulk mein education system upar ja hi nahi sakta tha
  46. He worked about 20 years in salaried roles, including as a teacher trainer and teacher. main main ne 20 saal naukri ki, kaam kiya, as a teacher trainer kaam kiya, as a teacher kaam kiya
  47. He says he eventually decided he had to start his own organization and company. Eventually I learned one thing ke I have to initiate my my own organization, my own company
  48. He says becoming a businessman in mid-career was hard for him. mid career professional mere liye bada mushkil kaam tha
  49. He says family obligations can limit how much business risk a person takes later in life. Aap ke upar family liabilities hongi, bachche honge to aap business ke andar utne khul ke risk nahi le sakte
  50. He says not everyone should become a businessman. main yeh bhi nahi keh raha ke har ek ko businessman ban jana chahiye
  51. He says Pakistan has an undocumented, cash-based economy. Hamari undocumented economy hai, cash economy hai
  52. He says educating people about paying tax is very important. Logon ko educate karna bada zaroori hai ke aap jab tax pay karte hain
  53. He says he lived in a hostel as a student. main hostels mein raha hoon, mujhe pata hai
  54. He says his home is in Lahore. main Lahore se mera ghar hai
  55. He says technology is a personal area of interest for him. mera ek personal interest area hai technology
  56. He says the problem with technology in schools is ethics and education, not the technology itself. problem is not with the technology. Problem is with the ethics and education
  57. He says technology has a proper way to be used, and teachers are not trained for it. Humara teacher train nahi tha. Humara teacher aaj bhi train nahi hai. Technology ko tareeka hota hai na istemaal karne ka
  58. He says about 70 percent of Pakistan's population lives in rural areas. 70% hum kehte hain ji dehi abadi hai, villages hain
  59. He says Pakistan's education system follows a top-down model. Hum top-down model ke aadi hain
  60. He says untrained teachers are a major issue in Pakistan. And that big issue is untrained teachers
  61. He says Pakistan does not have a teacher licensing system. Ab Pakistan mein teacher licensing system jo hai, woh exist nahi karta
  62. He says the current criterion for teaching is a B.Ed degree. Jo uska criteria hai, woh B.Ed hai
  63. He says LUMS does good work, but that its reach is small. Agha Khan accha kaam kar raha hai, LUMS accha kaam kar raha hai, but unki domain bahut choti hai na
  64. He says lawmakers should bring educators' voices into the assembly to raise education standards. aapne agar waqai apne education standard badhane hain, voice of educators ko apni assembly mein le ke aayein
  65. He says Pakistan urgently needs education legislation and regulation. legislation ki humein bahut shadeed zaroorat hai, regulation ki bahut acchi zaroorat hai
  66. He says he sees the single national curriculum as little more than a government experiment. main single national curriculum ko government ke ek experiment se zyada kuch nahi samajhta
  67. He says a curriculum does not mean textbooks. curriculum ka matlab kitabein nahi hota
  68. He says the national curriculum was produced in 2006 and revised in 2011 and 2017. 2006 mein curriculum banaya gaya, 2011 mein us ki revision hui, 2017 mein phir revision hui
  69. He says Pakistan ranks around 123rd or 124th in an OECD education ranking, though he has not seen the latest report. OECD ranking jo hamari education ki hai, hum 123vi ya 124vi position pe hain, main ne recent report nahi dekhi
  70. He says a society's survival depends on diversity. Kisi bhi society ki survival diversity pe hoti hai
  71. He says the Single National Curriculum will take about two more decades to implement properly. Single National Curriculum ko uske true sense mein lana, it will take another two decades
  72. He says his team developed the curriculum up to grade 8, aligned with the National Curriculum. grade 8 tak ka jo curriculum hai, woh toh hamari apni team ne develop kiya aur usko aligned rakha hamare National Curriculum ke saath
  73. He says there is no provision for the IB. IB ki provision nahi hai
  74. He says students can move to grade 9 after grade 8 into the local matric stream. hum unhein provision dete hain ki ji aap 8th ke baad grade 9 mein chale jayein. Theek hai, local system ki taraf chale jayein apne matric stream ki taraf
  75. He says Thinking School teaches the same content in a way that makes sense to students. Thinking School is actually teaching the same content in a very, very powerful way that it makes sense