Educationists pin hope on new education policy

Sufficient allocation of funds for new education policy
Islamabad, Sep 12: Prominent educationists have said, proper implementation and sufficient allocation of funds for new education policy will remain key for achieving higher literacy rates and raising standards in schools and institutions of higher learning.

The policy has reiterated the government's commitment to achieve tangible milestones and redress many of the issues hindering efforts at developing precious human resources.

The initiative pledges better working conditions for teachers, raise in budgetary allocations, separates role of administrators and educators and establish district boards to monitor schools.

For the first time, the missing link of career counselling for students, which can propel them to productive career paths, has been put under spotlight in the new policy.

Talking to this agency, prominent educationist from Government Degree College for Men, H-9, Dr Salahuddin Darvesh said the education policy carries the glimpses of Pakistan People Party's manifesto envisioning a developed and educated country.

From the time of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto till today, whenever PPP came into power, it always tried to elevate social standard of the people through its people-friendly policies.

The Education Ministry has set the ball rolling by mentioning the obvious that schools should have well trained teachers and quality books.

Darvesh termed the policy as a comprehensive scheme, which would achieve farsighted results through raising standard of education.

Progress in education is directly linked with quality curriculum, and special emphasis is given to the curriculum in this policy, which is a positive step.

The present government has strong political vision as it handled the issues of terrorism and extremism, and it is capable of solving social issues, he added.

Islamabad Model College for Boys (IMCB) F-8/4 Principal Professor Waheeduddin said the policy has emphasised on uniform syllabus, which is direly needed to end discrimination. Elevating the qualification of primary level teachers and giving them better grades will help them acquire respectable status in the society, he said.

Most of the targets set in the policy like increase in GDP to seven percent by 2015 and increasing HEC enrolment are long-term plans.

The policy has many targets to achieve, so the funding plans should be devised to achieve the desired goals, he said adding the policy attaches due importance to the Islamic education which is essential for the new generation.

He pointed out that the holding of higher secondary classes at school level needs to be reviewed as either the school teachers education will be improved or the faculty of colleges will be shifted to the school set up. Another educationist said, creating a uniform education system in the country and changing the education system according to the requirements of the 21st century are laudable steps. The news

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New vacancies created in Gilgit-Baltistan
Gilgit: The chief secretary Gilgit-Baltistan has ordered the health and education department to open 50 primary schools and same number of dispensaries immediately to ensure basic civic amenities to the people of the far-flung parts of the region.

An official of the Finance Department said that with the announcement, 319 new vacancies would be created to run the primary schools and dispensaries. Earlier, buildings had been built in remote valleys in this regard, he added.

The approval of the vacancies was accorded by Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad during the meeting of secretaries in the capital city Gilgit. The chief secretary, sources privy to the meeting said, also directed secretary health and education to make appointments on merit immediately.

Officials termed it a plan to overhaul the healthcare and education systems in the region. Dawn

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Communication skills course concludes
Islamabad: A three-week intensive course designed to impart English language communication skills to National ICT Scholarship award-holders concluded here on Friday.

Organised by the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS), NUST, the event was attended by Lieutenant General Muhammad Asghar, rector of NUST, Dr. Safdar Ali Shah, DG Outreach, and Dr. Qasim Sheikh, CEO National ICT R&D Fund.

National ICT Scholarship Programme (NICTSP) of the National ICT R&D Fund is a recognised scholarship programme providing access to deserving and talented youth from rural marginalised areas to pursue their undergraduate degree in disciplines related to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).

Though talented, these students face difficulty in communication skills, especially in English language. The recognition of this challenge and the need to bring them at par with other students of urban background, prompted SEECS-NUST to arrange a three-week intensive course with the objective of imparting English language reading, writing and verbal communication skills to these scholarship award holders. It also aimed at the broader approach to manifest positive attitude by giving awareness classes for self-actualisation so as to reinforce the student's moral strength.

Addressing on the occasion, Dr. Qasim Sheikh, CEO National ICT R&D Fund, thanked Lieutenant General Muhammad Asghar for taking personal interest in improvement of students from rural areas through the said initiative.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Asghar emphasised that taking sincere interest in the development of students is not a favour but a duty of academic institutions. He highlighted that improving communication skills is one of the steps to develop quality of skills, conduct and positive attitude amongst students. The news

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Iranian qaris mesmerise FJWU students
Rawalpindi: In connection with the holy month of Ramazan, a Mehfil-e-Qirat was organised at Fatima Jinnah Women University, (FJWU) here on Friday.

A delegation of Qaris of international repute from Iranian Cultural Consulate, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran, who are on their visit to Pakistan, presented the qirat, Qasida Burda Sharif and Asma-e-Husna in premises of the university.

The FJWU, in collaboration with the Iranian Cultural Consulate, Embassy of Islamic Republic of Iran, Islamabad, organised the Mehfil-e-Qirat every year. This year the delegation was comprised Mohammad Saleh Ahmadi Vand, Hafiz Mehdi Habibi, Qari Ahmed Zain, Aqai Syed Muhammad Shariati, Muhammad Jaffer and Aqai Muhammad Razai Ali.

The delegate was accompanied by Sahib Fasul, Iranian Counsellor and Mahmmud Amir Gul, Director Khana-e-Farhang, Rawalpindi.

Vice-chancellor of FJWU, Professor Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan, Dean Faculty of Law, Commerce and management Sciences, Professor Dr Naheed Zia Khan and a large number of senior faculty members were also present on the occasion.

The qaris beautifully recited different verses and Surahs from the holy Quran.

Sahib Fasul, while speaking on the occasion, briefed the audiences regarding the importance of Ramazan and fasting.

At the end, university souvenirs were presented to delegates as a token of appreciation by the vice-chancellor of FJWU Prof. Dr Saeeda Asadullah Khan. The nation

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