BRIDGING the GAPS – School Education Department’s website launched

LAHORE: School Education Department Government of Punjab has launched its official website (www.schools.punjab.gov.pk) for online access to the information and policies pertaining to the department to facilitate the public and the government functions.
The data of around 62 thousands schools including male and female has been uploaded on the website. The department has uploaded information under the respective subject and category links for ease of searching.
Sources in the department said that by setting up a website, Punjab chief secretary has provided a public facility for one stop complaint management, with the technical support of the Information and Technology Department. Complaints management system has been developed for registration and tracking of complaints.
He said School Education Department Secretary Aslam Kamboh is determined to make revolutionary changes in the department and, following his instructions, the website was prepared within six month by Deputy Director Monitoring Rana Abdul Qayyum Khan, who is also supervising the website. Khan said the department has instructed Executive District Officers (EDO) and especially the teaching community to send their comments and suggestions on the website.
Khan told Pakistan Today that complaints were being received on the website and officials in the department are solving issues online. He said main functions of the department, acts/rules/regulations and seniority lists of the teachers were present on website.
He said that they are uploading the website daily and all news regarding the department and notifications including those from the chief secretary’s petition cell will be uploaded daily. He said that thorough an initiative by the Punjab CM, provision of computer labs in schools in Punjab was ensured and now the website is in the access of students and teachers, who can take advantage from it.
An official in the monitoring cell said the system of the monitoring in the education department has improved as the email addresses and contact numbers of education department’s officials and even the contacts of the head masters in 62 thousand schools have been uploaded.
TEACHERS APPRECIATE: Teaching community appreciated the establishment a complete website and teachers from far off areas said that website will give them an easier access to the department, eliminating the commuting inconveniences.
Sobia Samreen, a female teacher in Sialkot, said that female teachers had to visit the department in Lahore to inquire about their issues but now the website will give them an opportunity to contact with the department online. She said education secretary should bind all EDOs to consult the website and listen to teachers’ problems.
She said Punjab Higher Education Department should also launch their official website as there are a number of issues in the higher education sector as well.