Advancing teacher professionalism in Pakistan through licensing and context-sensitive development of standards.

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Title: Advancing teacher professionalism in Pakistan through licensing and context-sensitive development of standards.
Authors: Shaukat, Sadia1 sadia.shaukat@ue.edu.pk, Chowdhury, Raqib2 raqib.chowdhury@monash.edu, Wilkins, Raphael3 raphaelwilkins66@gmail.com
Source: Issues in Educational Research. 2026, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p745-766. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Teacher certification, *Teacher development, *Educational equalization, *Education policy, *Teacher effectiveness, *Career development, Professional standards
Geographic Terms: Pakistan
Abstract: This study investigates stakeholders' perceptions of professionalisation and the need for a distinct teacher licensing system in Pakistan. The problem arises from Pakistan's fragmented education system, encompassing diverse public, private and military sectors, leading to inequitable teacher quality. Specifically, the study aims to explore the possibilities of teacher licensing in Pakistan and examine strategies that could improve teacher quality within the country's unique cultural and political landscape. The research questions focus on how a national teacher licensing system could be implemented, and whether professionalisation can be equitably enforced across Pakistan's four provinces. Using case studies, data was collected from 14 teachers, school leaders, and education policymakers from provinces where teacher licensing is under consideration. Findings reveal a need for continuous professional development, leadership training, and structured licensing systems. The study uniquely connects Pakistan's policy goals with stakeholder realities, offering context-specific recommendations such as phased licensing, mentoring and sustained support, and bridges national policy goals with the lived realities of stakeholders, an area often overlooked in existing research, by providing a context-sensitive analysis of licensing as a tool to promote equitable professional standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Issues in Educational Research is the property of Australia's Institutes for Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Advancing teacher professionalism in Pakistan through licensing and context-sensitive development of standards.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shaukat%2C+Sadia%22">Shaukat, Sadia</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> sadia.shaukat@ue.edu.pk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chowdhury%2C+Raqib%22">Chowdhury, Raqib</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> raqib.chowdhury@monash.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wilkins%2C+Raphael%22">Wilkins, Raphael</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><i> raphaelwilkins66@gmail.com</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Issues+in+Educational+Research%22">Issues in Educational Research</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 36 Issue 2, p745-766. 22p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+certification%22">Teacher certification</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+development%22">Teacher development</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+equalization%22">Educational equalization</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education+policy%22">Education policy</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+effectiveness%22">Teacher effectiveness</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+development%22">Career development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+standards%22">Professional standards</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pakistan%22">Pakistan</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study investigates stakeholders' perceptions of professionalisation and the need for a distinct teacher licensing system in Pakistan. The problem arises from Pakistan's fragmented education system, encompassing diverse public, private and military sectors, leading to inequitable teacher quality. Specifically, the study aims to explore the possibilities of teacher licensing in Pakistan and examine strategies that could improve teacher quality within the country's unique cultural and political landscape. The research questions focus on how a national teacher licensing system could be implemented, and whether professionalisation can be equitably enforced across Pakistan's four provinces. Using case studies, data was collected from 14 teachers, school leaders, and education policymakers from provinces where teacher licensing is under consideration. Findings reveal a need for continuous professional development, leadership training, and structured licensing systems. The study uniquely connects Pakistan's policy goals with stakeholder realities, offering context-specific recommendations such as phased licensing, mentoring and sustained support, and bridges national policy goals with the lived realities of stakeholders, an area often overlooked in existing research, by providing a context-sensitive analysis of licensing as a tool to promote equitable professional standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Issues in Educational Research is the property of Australia's Institutes for Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        StartPage: 745
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Teacher certification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational equalization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Career development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional standards
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pakistan
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Advancing teacher professionalism in Pakistan through licensing and context-sensitive development of standards.
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            NameFull: Shaukat, Sadia
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            NameFull: Chowdhury, Raqib
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            NameFull: Wilkins, Raphael
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            – D: 01
              M: 04
              Text: 2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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            – TitleFull: Issues in Educational Research
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