Role of Pakistan as a Frontline State and its Sociocultural Impact

Location of Pakistan has great geo-political and geo-strategic significance in the South Asian region. Pakistan played an important role for the strategic goals of the United States during the ruling periods of President Zia-ul-Haq and President Musharraf. As a frontline state Pakistan received economic and military assistance, during the period of President Zia-ul-Haq, for supporting US interests against Soviet invasion in Afghanistan. After 9/11, due to its strategic location, Pakistan became the ally of the United States against terrorism and the biggest beneficiary of US economic assistance in the region. However, as a result of these policies Islamic extremism, sectarian violence and ethnic cleavages cropped up in the society, shattering social and cultural values. The purpose of this research paper is to highlight the key role played by Pakistan as a frontline state and its impact on the Pakistani society. This research paper follows descriptive and analytical methods.

Teachers Beliefs of Intelligence and Their Implications for Classroom Practice: A Case Study

Teachers beliefs and their implicit theories about their students intelligence, abilities and the ways in which they learn, determines their approach to teaching. Many teachers in Pakistan conceive intelligence as an ability possessed by a few individuals in their classrooms. This notion has lead to teacher's categorisation of their students according to their cognitive abilities. On the other hand, teachers play an active role in transmitting knowledge to the students through passive participation and rote learning. This makes student receivers of knowledge rather than potential users and producers of knowledge. This case study, therefore, explores a teacher's belief about the notion of intelligence and her classroom practices in which the teacher engages. It also studies the implications of these beliefs for her classroom practices. Finding reveals that the teacher had certain beliefs and conceptions about the ability and intelligence of her students and the way they learn. These beliefs have implications for teachers' attitude and behaviour towards different ability groups, their classroom interaction and feedback to their students, the use of pedagogical content knowledge, and their students self-image. The study also reveals that there is a relationship between teacher's beliefs and her practices. This relationship is hindered sometimes by other factors in her workplace. By engaging the teacher in critical reflection on both her beliefs and her practices, the teacher was able to re-conceptualise the implications of her conceptions of intelligence and slightly changed her practices in the classroom. These changed practices brought significant changes in the teachers attitude and students learning which made the teacher re-conceptualise many of her beliefs and conceptions about intelligence.