Going the Extra Mile: A Multisite Case Study of Two Private Schools in Pakistan

Abstract

This study explored the perceptions of administrators, teachers and students of secondary schools in Karachi-Pakistan regarding the strategies adopted by the schools to exhibit care for the learning of students. This qualitative multisite case study was conducted with schools under the administration and management of Christians and Ismailies.   A semi-structured interview guide was used as a tool for data collection purposes. The data were transcribed and coded for the construction of themes.  Themes such as teacher preparation and performance, communication with parents, a learning-conducive environment, curricula supporting activities and continuous professional development were constructed from the data analysis. The study findings reveal that schools have adopted various strategies to facilitate and support students' learning. However, the primary focus seems to be on cognitive development, often at the expense of paying adequate attention to physical, social, and emotional development. Hence the study suggests that assumed and expressed needs of students in areas other than the cognitive domain should be considered pivotal by the school for a safe and peaceful society. The study also suggests that the application of care in a practical sense is the need of the times and should be made a systemic reality for all schools in Pakistan.