-Private and public sector schools would follow same curriculum
ISLAMABAD: Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on Tuesday unanimously agreed for introducing uniform education system by the government in the Capital.
The committee lauded the efforts of Federal Minister for education Shafqat Mahmood in this regard and offered full support to achieve the task while taking all stakeholders on board.
Senator Rahila Magsi chaired the meeting and it was also attended by the Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, and senators including Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah, Samina Saeed, Shamim Afridi, Quratulain Marri, Mian Muhammad Ateeq Shaikh, Professor Dr Meher Taj Roghani, Nauman Wazir Khattak, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Education secretary, Higher Education Commission (HEC) executive director (ED), representatives from the Law Ministry and other concerned departments.
Speaking in the meeting, Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mahmood hailed the committee’s endeavour to support the education reforms agenda of the government.
Senator Ateeq Shaikh moved the ICT Private Educational Institutions (Registration and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2016.
Describing the salient features of the bill, Mian Ateeq said that some private schools were not teaching Pakistan studies, ethics and Islamic Studies in the schools. He said that these subjects were mandatory for character building of students, adding “we should teach Islamic values and norms to our children.”
“This bill was only for the ICT schools,” he added.
The committee unanimously adopted the resolution.
Commenting on the bill, the minister said the government was trying to introduce uniform education system in the country. He said that the curriculum being taught in private and public sector schools would be converted into one system.
Highlighting the two major faults of the current class-based education system, he said that it was dividing the thoughts of the nation and under the existing system, the poor who study in low-grade schools could not get jobs.
“Although it is a big challenge for the government to prepare a uniform curriculum for public-private sector educational institutions we will make it sure to take all stakeholders on board to create consensus among federation and provinces,” he remarked.
Despite the 18th amendment, he said, “We will create consensus among the provinces and federation while preparing the new curriculum.”
“The participation of all provinces would make sure in National Curriculum Council (NCC)” he assured.
“The federal government played a leadership role in resolving key issues in the education system,” he added.
Senator Mushahid Hussain commended the efforts of education ministry said that it was a timely decision and we fully supported it.
Senator Molvi Faiz Muhammad said that Islam directed parents to teach their children. In past, we had produced renowned scientists who were yet a hallmark of development for non-Muslims in Islamic history.
On the demand of Senator Shamim Afridi for establishing a separate women university on D.I Khan road Kohat, the committee directed the HEC to consider the requirement of the area. The HEC ED assured to fulfil the demand of the people of the area.
