The Punjab government will take all the necessary step to achieve the high target of child enrolment till 2018, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the new phase of Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap named “Parho Punjab, Barho Punjab”, organised by the Education Department at Aiwan-e-Iqbal on Monday.
The chief minister formally inaugurated the enrolment campaign for the year 2015-16 by signing admission forms of two children as well as giving textbooks, bags and stationery.
Federal Minister for Trade Khurram Dastagir, provincial ministers, National and provincial assemblies members, Special Representative of British Department for International Development (DFID) Sir Michael Barber, representatives of donor agencies, vice chancellors of universities, heads of educational institutions, intellectuals, columnists, educationists, teachers, parents besides a large number of students were present on the occasion.
“This day has a very unique importance as today the Punjab government vows to bring a revolution in education sector by not sparing any effort in achieving the educational target set for the years till 2018,” the chief minister said.
He said that the government has made an investment of billions of rupees in education sector during the last seven years however, this journey is very long and a lot is yet to be done for uplifting education sector. He said that there are still a number of schools which lack educational facilities. He said that there is a need to provide missing facilities in all schools as quality education is right of every child of Punjab.
DAANISH SCHOOLS A GREAT SUCCESS:
He said that by setting up Daanish schools in the most backward areas of the province, the government has provided quality educational facilities to the poorest of the poor children. He said that children of those who criticise Daanish school system (DSS) are enrolled at the best universities of Pakistan and the world. He said that the nation has the right to ask these persons while did they not think about the poor when they and their children were studying at prestigious universities. He said that it is a grave injustice that while the children of the elites benefit from the best educational facilities, provision of quality academic facilities to the poor children is considered a waste of resources.
Praising DSS, the chief minister said that the DSS is running very successfully for the last five years and besides free education, boarding and lodging facilities are also being provided to poor and destitute children at these educational institutions. He said that it is wrong to think that progress of Pakistan depends only upon education of elites as every child will have to be equipped with the latest knowledge for taking Pakistan forward. The chief minister assured that all out resources will be provided for this purpose.
Referring to the measures taken for the uplift of education sector, the chief minister said that Educational Endowment Fund has been set up for the first time in the history of the country with a sum of Rs 12 billion and more than 85,000 talented but deserving students are receiving education in local and foreign educational institutions with the help of this fund. He said that all federating units of Pakistan have been included in this programme. He said that through educational fund, such scholars are being prepared which will change the destiny of Pakistan and will play an important role in achieving the goal of national progress and prosperity. He said that 1.6 million children are getting education under the voucher scheme of the Punjab Education Foundation. He said that more than one hundred thousand teachers have been recruited in Punjab purely on merit basis and are being imparted quality training.
He said that culture of unjust recommendation, bribery, corruption and coercion has been eliminated from the province and all recruitments are being made only on merit and eligibility. He said that laptops have been given to students and IT labs have been established in all schools of the province. He further said that the Punjab Skills Development Programme is also continuing successfully in the province with the cooperation of DFID and various skills are being imparted to the youth under this programme. He said that 20 years ago, Pakistan was compared with India but now it is lagging far behind India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other countries and facing serious issues like terrorism, extremism and shortage of electricity. He said that it is a big challenge to overcome these problems but no effort will be spared to rid the county of these problems.
ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS BEING INTRODUCED TO FIGHT EXTREMISM:
He further said that additional subjects based on tolerance, love and brotherhood are being included in the syllabus of educational institutions and seminaries which will help curb the menace of extremism. He further said that there is a need to launch a crusade against extremists, looters of national resources as well as those creating hurdles in promotion of education and minimising the gulf between the rich and the poor. He said that he firmly believes that God helps those who help themselves. He said that history is witness to the fact that a number of nations have faced problems but achieved progress and prosperity. He said that practical efforts are needed instead of hollow slogans and a decisive war will have to be fought for changing miseries of the nation into joys and happiness. He said that education is the only way to steer the country out of problems and crisis.