Cabinet approval on National Educational policy 2009

Education to be allocated seven pc of GDP. Education minister unveils National Education Policy 2009
Islamabad, Sep 10: After months of foot-dragging, the federal cabinet approved on Wednesday the national education policy which sets ambitious goals of raising the annual budgetary allocations for the sector to seven per cent of the GDP and increasing literacy to 85 per cent by 2015.

Grades 11 and 12 (intermediate education) will no more be part of college education but will be merged into the school system. All primary schools will be upgraded to the middle level.

The government also plans to increase enrolment in higher education from the present 4.7 per cent to 10 per cent by 2015 and to 15 per cent by 2020.

At present the allocation for the education sector is about two per cent of the GDP.

In the first week of April, a draft of the national education policy was submitted to the cabinet, but its approval was deferred for want of inputs from relevant quarters.

Education Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said that the inter-provincial forum of education ministers had been given a supervisory role in the new policy. It will meet on a regular basis to address provinces' concern.

Education is a provincial subject and the federal government only takes policy decisions.

He said the four chief ministers also attended the meeting which unanimously approved the policy. 'The main thrust of the policy is to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education by 2015.'

Mr Bijarani said the government had decided to separate academic and administrative cadres and set up district education boards to promote education at grassroots level.

The provincial governments will set up the boards in collaboration with local representatives.

Syllabus of public sector schools would be improved in consultation with private sector schools to reduce disparity between the two sectors.

The policy envisages a regime of strict uniform examination system across the country.

The minister said that teachers with matriculation and intermediate level education would be gradually phased out and replaced with qualified teachers.

The government has also decided to improve the salary structure of teachers.

The policy lays special focus on gender equality and bridging urban-rural divide.

The government has decided to launch a project called 'Apna Ghar'residential schools to provide free education to poor students.

'At present we have set up such schools in every provincial capital and the project would be extended to the district level,' the minister said.

He said that a national merit programme would be introduced to reward bright students.

'Improvement in coordination with national and international donors and effective private-public partnership has also been highlighted in the new policy,' the minister said.

Highlights:

*Each student to be given unique ID

*Concept of residential schools to be introduced on pattern of 'Danish schools' in Punjab

*Official age for primary education set at 6-to-10 years

*Enrolment in higher education to be increased from 4.7 percent to 10 percent by 2015, 15 percent by 2020

*Free education to include all education-related costs

*Plans to improve basic facilities at schools to be prepared

*All primary schools across country to be upgraded to middle level where feasible

*High priority to be given to reducing dropout rates

*Model schools for boys and girls to be established in each province. Dawn

Post your comments

Turkey promoting education in Pakistan
Islamabad: Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan M Babur Hizlar Wednesday said his country would extend full help and cooperation to Pakistan in improving the educational facilities and to achieve the targets of literacy.

Talking to this agency after visiting Pak-Turk International School and College Chak Shahzad here Wednesday, the Turkish ambassador said Turkish government and private sector with the cooperation of Pakistani business community has been playing important role in promoting the educational facilities in Pakistan.

He said that Turkish schools have been playing vital and important role in promoting quality, standard and excellent education in Pakistan and helping in improving literacy rate. The ambassador appreciating the standard of the education at the Pak-Turk schools said the children provided with special care to improve their talent and ability. "I feel proud to see the students learning at the Pak-Turk school here at Chak Shahzad, in the federal capital and really impressed to see the success of the school," said the Turkish ambassador, who visited different sections of the school to witness the educational facilities being provided to the students.

He said, "Turkey has been making sincere efforts to share the responsibilities of Pakistan in promoting quality education for all."

Pak Turk International Educational Foundation started its programmes in Pakistan in 1995 and the first ever Pak Turk educational institution was established in April 1995 as Boys Branch in Islamabad. It is an international Turkish non-governmental organisation that is being funded by the donations rendered by altruistic Turkish philanthropists from all walks of life.

Currently, 14 branches of Pak Turk International Schools & Colleges with a total strength of more than 3000 students are operating in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Khairpur, Multan, Peshawar and Quetta.

The school and college of Chak Shahzad is the last one opened this year where pre-nursery, KG, higher school and college have been started simultaneously. Managing Director Pak Turk International Education Foundation Pakistan Fesih Celik explained the salient features of the school and college system of the Pak Turk Foundation to the Turkish ambassador.

The ambassador was also informed that the building of the school has been completed while the hostel for 150 students is being completed.

Post your comments

World Qirat Mehfil to be held at AIOU
Islamabad: An international 'Mehfil-e-Husn-e-Qirat' will be held at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) on September 11 (Friday). Vice-chancellor AIOU Prof Dr Mehmood-ul-Hassan Butt would preside over the 'Mehfil' while Ambassador of Islamic Republic of Iran Mashallah Shakree would be the chief guest on the occasion, said a news release issued here Wednesday. Famous Qaris of various countries are expected to present beautiful recitations of the Holy Quran. The news

Post your comments