Punjab School Reforms Roadmap has substantially improved education sector :Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that implementation of Punjab School Reforms Roadmap has substantially improved education sector in the province. He said that the target of enrolment of 40 lakh children in schools will be achieved by October. He said that in order to promote quality education, one lakh 40 thousand teachers were recruited on merit in Punjab last year.  

He was presiding over a high level meeting to review Punjab School Reforms Roadmap, here today. International educationist Sir Michael Barber gave a detailed briefing regarding Punjab School Reforms Roadmap. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that Punjab government is spending billions of rupees for the promotion of quality education in the province. He said that funds have already been provided for improving educational facilities in public sector schools while this process will continue in future as well. He said that there is a need for capacity-building of the concerned staff and effective planning for proper and timely utilization of resources. He said that data collection process is being digitalized for making school reforms programme more effective.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that work on the project of digital monitoring for data collection be further accelerated. He said that billions of rupees are being provided to ensure missing facilities in schools while the ratio of teachers in schools is being rationalized with the number of students. He directed that special attention should be paid to improving grade level of boy and girl students. The Chief Minister issued instructions for constituting a committee for formulating recommendations for the purpose of improving grade level of students and recruitment of quality teachers and directed the committee to submit its recommendation within seven days.

Shahbaz Sharif directed that Punjab School Reforms Roadmap should be furthered in an effective manner. He also directed that immediate measures be taken for installation of solar panels for the supply of electricity to the schools of far-flung areas of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. He expressed his indignation over the delay in some matters pertaining to Punjab School Reforms Roadmap and warned that laxity in the implementation of Punjab School Reforms Roadmap will not be tolerated.

International educationist Sir Michael Barber and Country Head of British Department for International Development (DFID) Richard Montgomery while paying tributes to the vision and determination of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for the promotion of quality education in the province said that even in present situation he is moving ahead in the field of education and the people fully know that education, health and infrastructure sectors in Punjab have substantially improved under the leadership of Shahbaz Sharif. They said that education sector in Punjab has considerably developed and the credit for this goes to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his entire team.

The meeting was also attended by Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Schools, Secretary Finance, Vice Chairman Punjab Education Endowment Fund, DFID and World Bank authorities as well as concerned officers.