GILGIT, AUG 25 (DNA) – U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Jerry Bisson joined President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain today for the inauguration ceremony of the USAID-funded $1.5 million Faculty of Education building at the Karakoram International University (KIU).  KIU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalil Ahmed was also present at the event.

The newly constructed building is one of the 17 Faculties of Education buildings that USAID has constructed or rehabilitated in order to train Pakistan’s next generation of teachers and education professionals.  These facilities will serve over 6,500 students and over 500 faculty members each year.

President Hussain acknowledged USAID’s role in promoting access to high-quality education in the province and throughout Pakistan through infrastructure support.  He also recognized the significance of having a modern Faculty of Education and the need to prepare well-trained educators in Pakistan.

Mission Director Bisson said that the United States is working in partnership with the Government of Pakistan to improve the quality of education throughout the country.

 These state-of-the-art facilities will train generations of Pakistani teachers and enable them to prepare students to meet the demands of a rapidly changing and competitive world.  Education is a key driver of economic growth and social development in Pakistan.

The United States’ support for education extends to all parts of Pakistan.  In Gilgit Baltistan, USAID has trained over 790 teachers in nearly 470 schools and reached over 29,000 primary students with fundamental reading skills through the Pakistan Reading Project.

It has also provided 52 scholarships to talented, financially deserving students to complete their Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees at Karakoram International University through the Merit and Needs-based Scholarship Program.=DNA

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