Missing facilities at schools to be provided at the earliest

Lahore: Chief Secretary Punjab, Naveed Akram Cheema has directed education authorities to ensure that enrolment targets are achieved in accordance with Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Chief Secretary further directed that missing facilities at various schools be provided at the earliest, while necessary funds allocated for the purpose, during the current financial year, are fully utilized to achieve the target.

Chief Secretary Punjab, Naveed Akram Cheema was presiding over a high-level meeting regarding implementation of Millennium Development Goals, here today. Secretary School Education Department briefed the Chief Secretary in detail about the progress and the initiatives taken by the department in this regard.

Talking on the occasion, Chief Secretary said that provision of quality education is the top priority of Punjab Government’s development goals. He said that the Punjab government is comprehensively following the road map for school education reforms, focusing on 100% enrolment and retention of students of five to sixteen years old, to ensure that every child in Punjab is provided free, compulsory and quality education, compatible with international standards and relevant to market requirements.

Chief Secretary said that there is a need to comprehend the close linkage between provision of quality education and achievement of socio-economic development targets, in accordance with MDGs. He further directed the education authorities to chalk out a comprehensive and effective strategy in order to inculcate creativity, confidence and innovation in students, studying in public sectors schools, throughout the province.