Islamabad 27 November 2025(Kamran Raja): Continuing its 15-year legacy, The Millennium Education (TME) Group successfully organised Pakistan’s largest and most influential gathering of educators — the Annual Teacher Development Conference (TDC) 2025, Chapter XV — held on 21st and 22nd November 2025 at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, Islamabad. This year’s conference, themed “#FutureReady – Cultivating Learner Agency,” brought together more than 2,000 delegates and over 6,000 participants from across Pakistan. The theme underscored the importance of equipping learners with autonomy, curiosity, digital fluency, and the confidence to thrive in an evolving global landscape, while reaffirming the teacher’s role as a mentor, guide, and catalyst for learner agency. The conference featured an impressive lineup of national and international speakers, including Ambassador Farukh Amil, Dr. Samuel Rizk, Abbas Husain, Muhammad Umer, Uzma Yousaf, Professor Dr. Yasir Ayaz, Taimur Khalid Bandey, Mahboob Mahmood, Umair Jaliawala, Nigar Nazar, and Shireen Naqvi, as well as experts from UNDP, ACCA, Cosmic Space Systems, and the IB.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, graced the event as Chief Guest. Highlighting the transformative role of AI, robotics, and IT in modern education, he remarked that “the currency of the future is innovation,” and commended TME for its unwavering commitment to teacher development and youth empowerment. Patricia McKellar, Dean UG Laws, University of London, spoke on the growing importance of cross-cultural knowledge exchange and transnationalisation in future-ready education. A dynamic Knowledge, STEM & EdTech Exhibition added to the conference’s vibrancy, showcasing robotics, AI-powered learning tools, STEM solutions, digital learning platforms, assistive technologies, and future-ready classroom innovations. Across two days, the conference hosted a wide range of sessions exploring themes such as learner agency, course correction, compassion in education, financial inclusion through digital equity, rethinking assessments, and teaching the self before the subject — all aimed at preparing educators for a fast-changing world. One of the most engaging segments was The Great Debate titled “Digital Citizenship — Are We Future Ready?” Moderated by Dr. Faisal Mushtaq TI and featuring Professor Dr. Yasir Ayaz and Parvez Abbasi, the session sparked powerful discussions on AI readiness, ethical technology use, workforce competitiveness, and global digital responsibility.
Following tradition, TME recognised outstanding educators with the Millennium Impact Awards AY 2024–2025, along with Long Service Awards, Cambridge Awards, Microsoft MIEE Awards, and Service Gratitude Awards, celebrating excellence, innovation, digital leadership, and decades of dedication to education. The closing ceremony was graced by the legendary Mrs. Riffat Mushtaq (Aizaz-e-Fazeelat), Founder Chairperson, Roots School System, who shared her inspiring four-decade journey. Dr. Faisal Mushtaq TI paid tribute to her legacy, stating that “it takes one woman to do the right thing at the right time with a purpose, to change the course of generations.” He also honoured the late Dr. Khadija Mushtaq (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz) for her lifelong contributions to quality education in Pakistan. Reflecting on the conference’s 15-year journey, Dr. Faisal Mushtaq TI reaffirmed TDC’s position as Pakistan’s largest and most respected platform for educational dialogue, teacher development, and pedagogical innovation. He expressed gratitude to all speakers, delegates, sponsors, partners, and organisers, emphasising that the future of Pakistan rests on empowered teachers who cultivate agency, curiosity, and confidence in every learner.
TDC 2025 successfully delivered on its promise — empowering teachers so they can empower the future of Pakistan. Participants departed with renewed inspiration, a strengthened professional identity, and a collective commitment to shaping future-ready classrooms.