UNICEF and broadcasters around Pakistan call for every child of school-going age to be enrolled in schools on the eve of “International Children’s Day of Broadcasting” following on March 4. The UN Agency made the appeal to governments, private sector, national institutions, media, education professionals, communities, parents and other stakeholders to renew their commitment to ensuring that children have access to quality education. The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting is an international event where, on the first Sunday of March, thousands of broadcasters in more than a hundred countries help children to be directly involved in radio and television programming, production and presentation. As a result, children share experiences with their peers, and give voice to their hopes and dreams. In a statement issued here on Saturday, UNICEF said this year’s theme, ‘Every Child in School’, emphasizes the need for all children, both girls and boys, to access schooling and receive quality education up to secondary school level. Through their support, broadcasters will produce special TV and radio programmes raising awareness among parents and caregivers on the importance of enrolling out-of-school children, especially girls.
“Ensuring access to free and quality education for all children, especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged is both a right in principle and a right in practice. Investing in education is an investment in the future of Pakistan, an investment that both underpins the Government’s Framework for Economic Growth and is a catalyst for human growth and development,” said Dan Rohrmann, UNICEF representative in Pakistan. He said nearly 25 million children in Pakistan are denied their right to an education, the second largest number of out-of-school children in any country. Of these, seven million children are of primary school-age and 60 per cent are girls.
“It is essential to make all efforts to secure sufficient education budgets and invest in a dynamic and vibrant education sector that fully exploits the opportunities of new technologies and, above all, the amazing potential of children in Pakistan,” said Rohrmann.
PMDC’s golden jubilee celebrations to begin from today: Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) will arrange a function here on Sunday on completion of its 50 years services related to the field of medical in the country. On the occasion of golden jubilee celebrations, Registrar, PMDC, Dr Ahmad Nadeem Akbar said that the council is providing uniform and standard health facilities to the people for the last 50 years. He said the council’s accreditation standards are commendable which are comparable to those of developed countries. “This and other great toil implies recognition of quality. The council is playing its due and vital role in promotion towards betterment.” He said in the presence of distinguished and eminent professionals the council will go a long way and expressed the hope that PMDC will obtain its objectives.
According to him, being a regulatory body and its quest for achieving excellence in the field of medicine, PMDC is respected worldwide and is a key partner of international community of medical regulatory authorities.
Dr Nadeem said the organisation has played a vital role in safeguarding public interest and has maintained an effective system of recognition through inspection which is comparable with any regulatory authority in the world. He said PMDC has introduced new courses and research methodologies in the country, in order to keep the medical graduates updated with the latest technology and disease treatment methods. He said PMDC is a truly professional organisation in its respective field and taking innovative steps for the promotion of medical education, research and other health related academic activities in the country. PMDC is a statutory regulatory authority established under Pakistan Medical and Dental Council Ordinance 1962 as a body corporate. It is known and respected worldwide and is part of international community of medical regulatory authorities (IAMRA). Pakistani doctors are considered one of the best and are doing meritorious service in all parts of the world. That, he said, is a testimony to the effective regulation of medical education being done by the PMDC. No Pakistani doctor can practice in Pakistan or abroad without being registered with PMDC. To safeguard public interest, PMDC has been given a mission to establish uniform minimum standard of basic and higher qualifications in medicine and dentistry throughout the country.
The standards used by PMDC for accreditation and inspection of medical and dental colleges in Pakistan have been declared comparable to US standards. The system of accreditation had also been approved by the General Medical Council UK and all the colleges recognised under the PMDC ordinance 1962 are also automatically recognised by the General Medical Council and the graduates of these colleges are eligible to sit in PLAB examination for the purpose of higher education in United Kingdom.
Previously the General Medical Council used to conduct inspection of medical colleges in Pakistan through their own inspection team for the purpose of recognition of medical colleges. All the colleges recognised under the PMDC ordinance 1962 are also automatically recognised by FAIMER and IMEd in the world directory.
