Zaeem Mohammad Zaman

Membership Grade: MIfL
Length of IfL Membership: 1 Year 2 Months
Current Position: Lecturer
Reserved Seat: Age/North West England

Firstly, thank you for taking the time out to read my statement; it’s what makes it worthwhile to write.

“Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach” Rosabeth Moss Kantor.

During my time at college, whilst studying my A-levels I was enthused by my teachers, whilst completing my degree, which was in Economics and Business I became passionate about learning and decided to do my PGCE and teach.

I studied my PGCE at The University of Manchester; this was a challenging year in my life, but also a valuable experience.My teaching placements were based in schools and sixth forms, which is naturally where I expected I would eventually teach.However what I did not expect is that I would teach in the FE sector and be enthused by post 16 education.

The Further Education sector was unknown to me. However I embraced the challenges of FE and began to understand what was required, I found myself rapidly becoming passionate about the agenda of further education. Just one example is the 14-19 curriculum, which is going through a very exciting transition, where the IfL can certainly play a valuable role.

I do not feel the improvements in teaching are recognised in the FE sector, whereas there is more status and acknowledgment given to teachers of other sectors. Therefore supporting the IfL would ensure help for all FE teachers/lecturers, for example those who are currently delivering the A2 stretch and challenge agenda.

If elected I would work towards creating parity between teachers of other sectors, which I believe is important for new and young teachers, who like myself may have studied a PGCE in secondary education. I feel I have a good understanding partly due to the difficulties I have had through settling into an FE institution and due to my constant research into current & future policies. Therefore I would like to stand for the reserved seat of Age in the IfL Advisory Council, which is where I feel I can contribute most.

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”Henry Ford.

Thank you for taking time out to read my statement.

Zaeem