The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Visit a Teach For Pakistan Classroom
On October 15, during day one of the United Kingdom’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first official tour of Pakistan, the royal couple visited the co-education Islamabad Model College for Girls, a Federal Directorate of Education school, where three Teach For Pakistan Fellows teach. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge met with the school staff, Fellows, and students, and participated in a fourth grade math class led by Fellow Pashmina Amjad. During their visit, they spoke with students about their learning experience and the importance of mental health education, which is one of the royal couple’s current priorities.
The Duke and Duchess also met with Teach For Pakistan’s CEO and Founder, Khadija Bakhtiar, who highlighted the importance of developing young leaders committed to educational equity, to ensure all children have the best possible start in life, especially those from less privileged backgrounds. They also discussed how developing students’ global competence that is appreciative of the local culture and history is crucial to a comprehensive and value oriented education.
“We visited a government school and saw kids learning and engaged, with an inspiring teacher who had been trained by Teach For Pakistan,” Prince William said later that evening, at an event attended by government representatives and luminaries from Pakistan’s business and creative arts spheres.
Access to quality education is among the U.K.’s top priorities in its bilateral relationship with Pakistan. In planning their visit, the royal couple were intentional about visiting schools and speaking to young people about their lives and aspirations, which inspired them to learn about Teach For Pakistan’s work and visit its classrooms.
We’re thrilled by the Duke and Duchess’s championship of Teach For Pakistan’s efforts, and grateful to them for raising awareness of our global network’s shared approach to developing local leadership committed to ensuring all children, in Pakistan and around the world, have the education, support, and opportunity they need to thrive.
