The government of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) has signed an agreement with the British Council for improvement of the region’s education sector. The agreement was signed by Gilgit-Baltistan Education Minister Ibrahim Sanai and Sir Ciarán Devane, the British Council’s Chief Executive, in London.

The signing ceremony was attended by Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman, Chief Secretary Tahir Hussain, Secretary Education Sana Ullah and other officials. Gilgit-Balistan formerly known as the Northern Areas of Pakistan is the northern most administrative territory of Pakistan with estimated population approaching 2,000,000. Its capital city is Gilgit (population 216,760 est).

On this occasion, Nishat Riaz, the British Council’s Director of Education for Pakistan said, “We will work with the government of Gilgit-Baltistan to develop leadership programmes for governance in education. This will support the government in the development of Gilgit-Baltistan”.

She further said that schools, colleges and other institutions in Gilgit-Blatistan and the United Kingdom will be linked as part of an effort to improve the quality of education. Establishing a skills sector in Giglit-Baltistan is also part of the agreement, she added.

British Council Pakistan commentary:

So far, more than 76 UK institutions have formal partnerships or long-term agreements with Pakistani higher education institutions. 98 percent of all Pakistani vice-chancellors and rectors have received leadership training in the UK since 2010, which has allowed them to form relationships with the UK and its education sector.

Last year alone, 14 new transnational education partnerships were agreed upon. Currently, a new set of partnership agreements is underway with various UK institutions. Click here for details about British Council Pakistan’s programmes in higher education.

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British Council - Higher Education & TNE