Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over a high-level meeting which expressed satisfaction over the progress of achieving targets of “Parho Punjab-Barho Punjab” under Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said the government is marching forward speedily for achieving educational targets fixed under “Parho Punjab- Barho Punjab” Programme. He expressed the hope that the target of enrolment of every child of Punjab in school would be achieved through hard work and determination. He said that teachers’ training programme is an important part of educational reforms roadmap.
Sharif said that the achievement of educational targets and promotion of quality education is impossible without proper training of teachers. He said cooperation of British Council is being sought for the training of teachers. He said recruitment of teachers has been made on hundred percent merit under the merit policy in Punjab. The chief minister said that the achievement of targets of promotion of education is our collective responsibility. He said effective monitoring and system of punishment and reward is also essential for achieving educational targets. He said that billions of rupees are being spent on the repair and construction of dilapidated buildings of schools.
Sharif directed that the work of repair and construction of dilapidated buildings of schools should be accelerated. He said promotion of quality education is of great importance for eliminating the trends of extremism. He said the goal of development and prosperity of the country and the nation can also be achieved through promotion of education. He said that the splendid programmes of Punjab government for the promotion of education in every nook and corner of the province are proving fruitful.
The chief minister said that basic educational facilities and attendance of teachers and the students have improved in schools. He said provision of resources for promotion of education is an investment for the bright future of the country and the nation. He said that quality education is the right of every child and Punjab government is providing this right to them. He said that there will be no shortage of resources for equipping the builders of the nation with education. He said provision of transport facilities to the children in rural areas is also vital for achieving educational targets.
Special representative for DFID Sir Michael Barber said that the efforts of Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team under “Parho Punjab-Barho Punjab” Programme are commendable. New Head of DFID in Pakistan Joanna Reid said that she is greatly impressed by the working style of Sharif. She said steps of the Punjab government for the promotion of quality education are laudable. She expressed the hope the Punjab government under the leadership of Sharif will certainly succeed in achieving the educational targets.
