Headmistress (Junior Section) of the Karachi Grammar School
Awards
Tamgha-i-Imtiaz
Norma Fernandes, TI (died 6 January 2024) was a Pakistani teacher from Karachi.
Biography
Fernandes was educated at St Joseph's Convent School, Karachi.[1] She began her career teaching at St Patrick's High School, Karachi. She also was a sportswoman, a dramatist, and musician.[2] From 1966 to 2009, she worked first as a teacher and then as Headmistress (Kindergarten/Junior Section) of the Karachi Grammar School.[3] In January 2006, Norma Fernandes moved to a new area of responsibility within the Karachi Grammar School, as Advisor, working with the Board, the Principal and the Internal Management Team and also giving confidential advice to parents.[4] In 2009, she retired from the Karachi Grammar School after more than 50 years in education.[2]
In 2013, the Citizens Archive of Pakistan interviewed Fernandes to obtain the story of her service. In a podcast, Fernandes talks about her memories of growing up in Karachi and when her entire family migrated to Canada, but she stayed behind to continue working in education.[5]
On 14 August 2013, the Government of Pakistan announced that it would honour Fernandes on 23 March 2014 with the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz for her services to education. (It is the fourth-highest decoration given to any civilian in Pakistan based on their achievements.)[6]