-
Says no child will be deprived of basic right to education due to lack of resources
-
Condoles death of Malik Ashiq Hussain Awan
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said the Punjab government would continue serving the masses with dedication despite “hue and cry of the opposition.”
“Provision of best healthcare and educational facilities to the people is among the top priorities of the Punjab government and use of information technology in the education sector has given wonderful results,” he added.
In a statement, the chief minister said the Punjab government’s efforts to increase enrollment in schools and to reduce the drop-out ratio had proved fruitful. He also said that the outsourcing of schools had helped in improving the quality of education and added that this outsourcing model would further be promoted. Shehbaz said the teachers were the worthwhile architects of the country’s bright future and giving them a high social status and respect was everyone’s moral obligation.
“The teachers’ training programmes will be further continued to improve the overall quality of education and latest concepts as well as educational models will be utilised to provide them with world-class training,” he said.
The chief minister also said that thousands of new classrooms were being constructed in public sector schools across the province and it was expected that the availability of new classrooms would help to increase the enrollment ratio in the schools.
“Meanwhile, an amount of Rs8 billion is being spent for the uplifting and maintenance of dilapidated school buildings,” he said while adding it was satisfying to note that the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) had emerged as the largest stipend programme of its kind across South Asia.
Under this programme, he said, more than Rs15.5 billion was distributed among the needy but bright students as stipends and the number of PEEF scholars had risen to 350,000.
“It is undoubtedly the most vibrant social change at the grassroots level,” said Chief Minister Shehbaz.
He also said that the scholarship programme had enabled the brilliant students to shoulder the process of national development in their respective fields, and the provision of high-quality education to all the children was the first priority of the Punjab government. “No child will be deprived of his or her basic right to education due to lack of resources,” he added.
“Serving the hapless communities is my mission and no stone will be left unturned to rid the people of their deprivations,” concluded the chief minister.
Separately, the chief minister expressed a deep sense of sorrow over the passing away of Malik Ashiq Hussain Awan, a senior politician and former member of the provincial assembly (MPA).
In his condolence message, Shehbaz prayed that may the departed soul rest in eternal peace and the members of the bereaved family bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.