CalSouthern Awards Scholarship - First Step towards Women's Mentorship Program
CalSouthern has awarded its first scholarship to Calpak’s administrator in Pakistan, Mrs Kulsoom Arjeel, for being in good standing with the Calpak and its adopted Sindh Government School. Mrs Kulsoom will be taking a certificate course in education from CalSouthern.
This is the first scholarship that CalSouthern has awarded to a teacher as part of its collaboration with Calpak.
The scholarship was given to Mrs Kulsoom by California Southern University Board Member and Calpak Collaborator, Anila Ali, who recently visited Pakistan to tour the under-served area school in Shirin Jinnah Colony, Karachi, where Calpak had adopted Qurtaba Government Primary School. In 2013, the enrollment was 90 students with hardly any in attendance and now it’s 430 students. In the District SAT exams, 1st and 2nd position holders were from Qurtaba. Calpak’s focus has been on improving literacy scores through intervention and remedial classes. It also introduced a cash bonus program for teachers and students to encourage accelerated learning.
The scholarship, a 17 unit certificate course in education exceeding a value of $10,000, is a part of CalSouthern’s commitment to provide quality, affordable, and online education in Pakistan. CalSouthern has awarded the Scholarship to Mrs Kulsoom for being in good standing with the Calpak and its adopted Sindh Government School. The “Teaching and Learning Effectiveness” scholarships are designed to provide professional knowledge and teaching practice to educators in the rural areas of Pakistan.
After adoption and bringing the much-needed changes in the infrastructure and teaching and learning environment, the school has transformed the lives of the 450 children who are currently enrolled.
The Ca lSouthern-Cal Pak collaboration has been working in Pakistan over the past few years. Currently, California Southern University has been sponsoring the Cal Pak Tharparkar Project 2019. CalSouthern’s sponsorship allowed CalPak Education Services to adopt an under-served community in Karachi and two in Tharparkar. The project will help children to attend school and learn in a safe environment.
Under the CalSouthern’s sponsorship over 450 uniforms, shoes, socks, pencils, notebooks, desks and computers have been provided to these schools. They are equipped with solar energy panels as well as clean water for the children. This is the first time in years that these Thar schools have teachers assisting and teaching the students.
CalSouthern has had multiple collaborations in Pakistan. Earlier this year, CalSouthern collaborated with Iqra University to provide educational advice and a series of lectures on “Global Trends in Education: Leveraging Learning Technology for Better Student Engagement.” CalSouthern continues to seek and discuss partnerships with other universities of Pakistan as well.
The impact of the CalSouthern-Cal Pak collaboration is expected to gain momentum in Pakistan in the coming years. CalSouthern’s variety of 100% online degrees and certificates offer working professionals in Pakistan the flexibility to earn a US-accredited degree from home.
While in Pakistan, Anila Ali also met with the USAID Director, Michael Hryshchyshyn, for Sindh and Baluchistan to discuss the CalSouthern and Calpak Collaborations in Pakistan, especially the recent project in Thar.
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