The Use of Instructional Technology in Private Schools and National Education Policy

Audio Visual Aids (A.V. Aids) are devices, which are used in teaching to make the learning experience more effective and dynamic. A.V. Aids have made improvements in learning process through involving the sense of hearing and/or sense of sight. The history of the A.V aids can be traced back to the Greek period, however, the technological advancement brought new innovations in the form of computer assisted programs and accessories. In comparison with developed countries, the developing countries including Pakistan experience the lack of modern A.V. Aids as well as the required technical know-how for their effective use. The aim of this paper is to explore the use of A.V. Aids, their type, teachers’ training for their effective use, policy imperatives and role of private public schools in adoption of A.V. Aids in education in private schools in district Peshawar, KP province. To achieve objectives of the study, data was collected from teachers of private schools through close and open ended questionnaire. Information was also collected from books, government’s reports, published research and internet. The findings show that A.V. Aids are used in all private schools in some form. However, there is no system to give formal training to teachers about the proper and effective use of A.V. Aids. The major A.V Aids used in schools are chalk board and white board, while about 60 % schools were found using pictures, maps, models charts and multimedia. The paper gives practicable suggestions to widen the use of A.V. Aids and enhance their effectiveness in education.