An Analytical Study of the Outcomes and Impacts of Religious Education of Pakistan, the Challenges and Opportunities

This study focuses on the impact of Religious Education in Pakistan at individual and collective levels. The research discusses the educational basis for the study of religion and analyzes the contribution of religious education towards the intellectual growth of individuals. The study raises few questions regarding religious education in Pakistan such as; why has our education system been divided into religious and secular education system. Whether the existing religious education is able to create a linkage between religion and society or not, if not what are the areas which need to be focused. What are the possibilities of sidelining the religious education and what could be its effects. The research focuses on the aims and objectives or religious education in Pakistan by analyzing the nature of curriculums of religious education at various levels. This study highlights the deficiency of the inclusion of the teachings of other religions in our religious education. The research consists of a current survey of the said topic, some findings and conclusions on the issue and few recommendations as well.

Exploring the Process of Progression Towards Senior Leadership

The availability of competent leaders for the sustainability of school improvement requires the development of potential leaders for the senior leadership positions. Mostly professional development of leaders is focused in the research studies (Turner, 2007) but the process of progression to senior leadership and factors affecting that process remain unpacked and unobserved, which create uncertainty and confusion for the potential leaders about their standing position in the process of progression. The purpose of this study was to explore the process of progression to senior leadership in a community based school in Karachi and to highlight the perception of teachers about the existing process of progression. Two phase sequential mixed method study was conducted to present a holistic picture of progression towards senior leadership. In the first phase through, interviews of a senior leader, the head of section and a class teacher; observations and document analysis, emerging themes about existing process were highlighted. A linear process of progression was identified within supporting and hindering factors' In the second phase, a five point rating scale survey questionnaire based on the emerging themes from phase one and research literature was used to gather teachers' perceptions about the existing process of progression, supporting factors, hindering factors and the teachers' satisfaction with the process. Survey findings were helpful to understand the teachers' perceptions about the process' A general agreement was observed among the teachers about the process of progression to leadership in the school. Their perceptions were similar to the leadership perceptions regarding process of progression and affecting factors. The dissertation also presents implications and recommendations for the future research in the area of leadership development' This study is helpful to potential leaders including teachers to plan their progression' It is also useful for the school leadership to enhance enabling factors and control the hindering factors involved in the process of progression.