AIOU to educate dropouts for free!

Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will provide free education to dropouts, poor and deserving students under its ‘Educate a Child thorough Open Schooling System’, said AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi while inaugurating an open school at the residential colony of Governor House Punjab on Saturday.

Dr Sangi said that around Rs 26 million have been allocated for this purpose, which were collected from the students, university’s employees and member of the civil society under different heads. About 3,000 open schools will be established under the scheme by the end of this year, he said, adding currently 225 such schools are functioning in various parts of the country.

Prof Dr Naveed Baqir, College of Business and Economic, University of Delaware, academicians, dignitaries and large number of local students were present on the occasion.

AIOU has planned to provide education to about one million dropout students within next five years mainly with the students’ contributions which the university receive in term of late fee of the admissions.

The vice chancellor further said that the university is actively engaged in promoting “educate a child scheme” for providing sustainable low-cost education to the dropout students. It has also been pursuing self-reliance policy in education system, reducing dependence on the government.

Such school, he said will work as a model educational institution for the poor segment of the society. He described open schooling system as a gift from the students to the poor people since the whole amount to be spent on it is their contribution.

Prof Dr Naveed Baqir and Muhammad Qasim Haider also spoke on the occasion. They said that open schooling system of the university will prove a milestone in improving literacy rate in the country.