Pakistani Educational Leadership Project

The Pakistani Educational Leadership Project engages Pakistani educators and administrators by developing and honing the leadership skills necessary to direct educational initiatives and effect change in Pakistan.

Hosted by Plymouth State University, with funding from the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 120 Pakistani alumni have shared their training with more than 100,000 colleagues and students throughout Pakistan, planting the seeds of change as well as hope.

The Project is real-time and real people. Pakistan is a politically and socially charged area where challenges and uncertainties such as bombings, suicide attacks, and “miscreants” invade schools and communities on a regular basis. Our Pakistani alumni are amongst the real heroes in Pakistan as they continue to serve their students, even in the face of danger.

This is one of their stories.

“I am excited to share a real story of my life with you. I live in a tribal area and am the head of a girls’ school, although right now I am living in a refugee camp because we had to flee our area. My story is terrible, but don’t be scared, we are people like you. We think like you and also want peace and love, like you. Unfortunately we are part of this kind of life, but we are continuing our struggle for education and peace. We never stop our struggle.

One day I was working in my office and as usual teachers were in the classroom and students were busy studying. Everything was okay when suddenly I felt some disturbance outside the school. I didn’t take notice because this is normal and we are used to such a sad situation. But, the situation became serious when the school watchman told me that the school was surrounded by two groups of miscreants. They were fighting with each other and trying to kill one another.

All of sudden they took their position. The situation became so difficult that, in the moment, I wanted to talk with the miscreants but they started cross firing. Teachers and students felt nervous and started crying with one voice.

I was also nervous, but at that time there was no room for nervousness. It was time for handling the situation and showing courage because God helps those who help themselves. Then, I remembered my primary school students were on the upper story. They were crying and didn’t know what they should do. My clerk and I ran towards the upper building and we shifted all the children to the safe place. I felt maybe they will make the children hostages and then we quickly started to take the children outside from the back door. At the end I, along with my staff members and students, left the school.

After 10 minutes we heard a big blast. We turned back and saw a shocking scene—our upper story of school was totally destroyed. At that moment I wanted to laugh and cry because we saved many innocent lives.”

This year’s Pakistani Educational Leadership Project will welcome an expanded delegation of Pakistani educators and administrators for the month of July. For additional information contact Blake Allen, project director, or visit the Pakistani Educational Leadership Project Web site.