National Education Policy & Islamic Education' chapter

'Islamic Education' chapter added to draft
Islamabad, Aug 01: A new chapter titled 'Islamic Education' has been added to the draft of National Education Policy 2009 after the consultation with Itehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Deeni Madaris and Ministry of Religious Affairs.

According to reliable sources in the Ministry of Education a chapter stressing the needs for Islamic teachings has been included in order to familiarize the children and the youth of the country with the basic Islamic principles and their implementation in practical life.

Previously Wafaq-ul-Madaris expressed its reservation on the draft saying that no prominent religious organisation had been taken into confidence while compiling the draft.

Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Rehman Malik and Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi also expressed their reservations on the draft and suggested that the Ministry of Education must seek guidance from the religious organisations while compiling the draft.

A high-level meeting is also planned to be conducted by Ministry of Interior in August in which Itihad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Deeni Madaris which includes Waqaf-ul-Madaris, Tanzeem-ul-Madaris, Rabta Aalim-e-Islam, Ahl-e-Hadees and Ahl-e-Tasheeh would participate and give their opinion on the draft of National Education Policy.

According to the sources the final shape of draft has already been informally submitted to the Cabinet on Thursday in order to get it checked before sending it to the Printing Cooperation of Pakistan.

"It is better to get it checked from Cabinet now as printing costs millions of rupees and we don't want to waste it in case of amendments afterwards," the sources said.

The vision of the draft has also been changed and the new vision states "our education system must provide quality education to our children and youth to enable them to realize their individual potential and contribute to the development of society and nation, creating a sense of Pakistani national hood, concepts of tolerance, social justice, democracy, regional and local culture and history based on basic ideology according to the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan."

As many as 20 objectives had been added to the already existing objectives in order to enhance its implementation. "We have tried to take benefit from the all previous policies in this regard and the positive things had openly been adopted especially when it comes to the objectives," they said.

It is also worth mentioning that the new policy has been designed as a living adaptable document mentioned in Chapter 11 as its clause 11.2 states "In recent decades a tradition of time bound policy documents has been established. This contradicts the reality of education, which is an ongoing and living process. To reflect this reality, the current document has not been bounded by a time frame. It will be subject to changes as and when ground realities demand review of specific area or areas discussed in the document."

It also states that periodic revision of the National Education Policy will be replaced by a continuous cycle of review. After the policy is agreed, and the implementation process begins, the policy will be revised as per need identified through feedback from the implementers.

"Unlike the previous policies which were compiled for the span of ten year or more than it, the current policy is an open document in which changes could be made anytime according to the needs and circumstances," the sources said.

According to the sources the draft of the policy would be sent to Printing Cooperation of Pakistani after it will be formally tabled to the Cabinet for the approval.

Ministry of Education Planning and Policy Wing Deputy Educational Advisor (DEA) T M Qureshi when contacted, conceded the mentioned changes in the draft and said that the draft would be presented in the next Cabinet meeting for the approval.

He said that they wanted the draft to be acceptable by the every segment of society so it took a lot of time in the consultation with all stakeholders.

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NISTE launches capacity building programme
Islamabad: The National Institute of Science and Technical Education (NISTE) Ministry of Education has launched capacity building programme in Science and English subjects.

The capacity building programme has been launched in collaboration with Education Support to Pakistan (Ed-Links) USAID, says a press release issued here Friday.

Addressing the launching ceremony NISTE Director General Prof Dr. Farid A. Khawaja said, "The NISTE has been playing a vital role in imparting the training among the teachers of all levels in Science and English subjects."

He said that the resource persons and master trainers from different departments such as Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) and other institutions functioning under the Ministry of Education would make arrangements to materialise the comprehensive plan of the government for dissemination of Science and English subjects knowledge far and wide in the country.

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Schools to reopen in Malakand today
Peshawar: All government and private schools will reopen from today in Malakand division, including those in the conflict-hit districts of Swat, Buner and Lower Dir, following the military offensive against the Taliban. "Everything is set for reopening educational institutions in all conflict-hit districts except Kabal and Kanju where the military operation is still being carried out," NWFP Additional Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education Qaisar Alam Khan said that on Friday.

"Teachers have been directed to resume their duties from today and those who do not comply would face disciplinary action. Classes at schools that were completely destroyed will be held in tents until reconstruction is completed. The reconstruction funds are being provided by international agencies," Qaisar said. Also, the All Private Schools Management Association (APSMA) Malakand has decided to open all private schools in the division from today. Daily Times

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Writers and poets delegation visits AIOU
Islamabad: Dean Faculty of Social Sciences, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) Prof Dr Abdul Hafeez on Friday said that poets, columnists and creative writers are nerves of our society and they are

effectively guiding and leading the nation towards its destination.

Addressing the visiting delegation of renowned scholars, writers and poets from Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan here at the university campus, he said that thinkers are sensitive organs of our society who play their pivotal role in nurturing national unity among the masses.

Dr Hafeez thanked the writers for their long lasting association with Allama Iqbal Open University and discussed the advisory role and cooperation of the country's leading writers in formulating syllabi for the departments of Iqbaliat, Urdu and Pakistani Language of the University.

Imdad Hussaini, Shah Muhammad Marri, Dr Fatma Hussain, Prof Sahar Ansari, Altaf Ahmad Qureshi, Sarwat Muhayddin, Rahat Saeed, Muhammad Ali Pathan, Dr Ayaz Gul, Dr Yusaf Memon and Prof Nasir Ali Syed were included in the delegation.

Speaking on the occasion, prominent Sindhi poet Imdad Hussaini said that Islam and Pakistan are the common factors in the creative works of all the writers and opinion difference is a beautiful aspect of life. He lauded the role of the University in uplift of life of the nation. The News

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