Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has vowed to attain target of 100 percent literacy rate during the next five years in Punjab. “100 percent literacy rate is a challenge which will be achieved as a national obligation,” he added.
The chief minister stated this while presiding over a high-level meeting for reviewing the implementation of Punjab school reforms roadmap programme at Model Town on Wednesday.
The chief minister said the emergency enrolment campaign had been launched throughout the province where admissions of children in schools were being ensured during the campaign. He said collaboration between DFID of UK and Punjab government in education sector was yielding positive results. He directed to constitute working groups between the Punjab government and DFID for the uplift of health and other sectors.
The chief minister said promotion of quality education for strengthening economy and rapid development of the country was of great importance and the government was attaching high priority to education. He said obtaining education is a basic right of every child and the government was providing this right to them.
He expressed the hope that due to steps of the government, no child would get deprived of his right to education. Shahbaz directed that the competent officers should immediately be posted on vacant posts on the basis of merit. He said digital monitoring plan should be evolved for ensuring attendance of teachers in schools and no political or administrative pressure regarding postings and transfers of teachers should be accepted.
He directed that an effective campaign should be launched for providing vigorous guidance to people regarding emergency enrolment campaign and elected representatives should also be included in the campaign.
While giving a briefing about the Punjab school reforms roadmap programme, British Educationist Sir Michael Barber said the Punjab government had implemented this programme in an effective manner.
The meeting also discussed various proposals regarding reduction in dropout ratio of the children and making the enrolment campaign a success.
PUNJAB GOVT‚ CHINA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR ECONOMIC ZONE: The Punjab government and China have inked an agreement for establishing a Special Economic Zone.
Speaking on the occasion‚ Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab-China Garments Industrial Zone will be established soon which will help resolve issue of unemployment besides strengthening economy of Pakistan. The chief minister said that Chinese investors will invest in the Punjab-China Industrial Zone.
