Shahbaz Sharif announces the new phase of Schools Reforms Roadmap “Parho Punjab–Barho Punjab”

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, while announcing the new phase of Schools Reforms Roadmap, “Parho Punjab–Barho Punjab” has said that the target of enrolment of every male and female child till 2018 has been set in the province. He said that in the new phase the students studying in schools will have to give correct answers to at least 85 percent questions in examination which will help improve standard of education as well as abilities of students.

He was addressing inaugural ceremony of the new phase of Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap, “Parho Punjab–Barho Punjab” arranged by Provincial Education Department at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, here today. The Chief Minister formally inaugurated the enrolment campaign for the year 2015-16 by signing admission forms of two children as well as gave them textbooks, bags and stationery.

Federal Minister for Trade, Eng. Khurram Dastagir, Provincial Ministers, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Special Representative of British Department for International Development (DFID) Sir Michael Barber, representatives of donor agencies, vice chancellors of universities, heads of educational institutions, intellectuals, columnists, educationists, teachers, parents besides a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the function, the Chief Minister said that today is very important with regard to bringing a revolution in education sector as on this day a commitment will have to be made that no effort will be spared for achieving educational target for the years 2018 with hard work, honesty and dedication. He said that Punjab government has made investment of billions of rupees in education sector during the last about seven years however, this journey is very long and much is still to be done for uplifting education sector. He said that there are still a number of schools which lack educational facilities.

The Chief Minister announced to adopt a school in the rural area of Lahore and said that he will not only supervise the affairs of the school but will also visit to the school from time to time. He said that Provincial Ministers, Chief Secretary, Secretaries, heads of different departments, Commissioners, RPOs, DCOs and DPOs each will also adopt a school.

He said that there is a need to provide missing facilities in all schools as quality education is equal right of every child of Punjab which has to be ensured. Shahbaz Sharif said that by setting up Daanish schools in the most backward areas of the province, Punjab government has provided quality educational facilities to the poorest of the poor children. He said that such elements have been criticizing Daanish school system as have studied at the best universities of Pakistan and the world. He said that the nation has the right to ask these persons while did they not think about the poor when they were studying at prestigious universities. He said that it is a grave injustice that while the children of the elites benefit from the best educational facilities, provision of quality academic facilities to the poor children is considered a waste of resources.

The Chief Minister said that from Daanish school system is running very successfully for the last five years and besides free education, boarding and lodging facilities are also provided to poor and destitute children at these educational institutions. He said that it is wrong to think that progress of Pakistan depends only upon education of elites as every child will have to be equipped with the latest knowledge for taking Pakistan forward. The Chief Minister assured that all out resources will be provided for this purpose.

Referring to the measures taken for the uplift of education sector, the Chief Minister said that Educational Endowment Fund has been set up first time in the history of the country with a sum of Rs.12 billion and more than 85 thousand talented but deserving students are receiving education in local and foreign educational institutions with the help of this fund. He said that all federating units of Pakistan have been included in this programme. He said that through educational fund, such scholars are being prepared which will change the destiny of Pakistan and will play an important role in achieving the goal of national progress and prosperity. He said that 16 lakh male and female children are getting education under the voucher scheme of Punjab Education Foundation. He said that more than one lakh teachers have been recruited in Punjab purely on merit basis and are being imparted quality training.

The Chief Minister said that culture of Safarish, bribe, corruption and coercion has been eliminated from the province and all recruitments are being made only on merit and eligibility. He said that laptops have been given to boy and girl students and IT labs have been established in all schools of the province. He further said that Punjab Skills Development Programme is also continuing successfully in Punjab with the cooperation of DFID and various skills are being imparted to the youth under this programme.

He said that 20 years ago, Pakistan was compared with India but now it is lagging far behind India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and other countries and facing serious issues like terrorism, extremism and shortage of electricity. He said that it is a big challenge to overcome these problems but no effort will be spared to rid the county of these problems.

Shahbaz Sharif further said that additional subjects based on tolerance, love and brotherhood are being included in the syllabus of educational institutions and seminaries which will help curb the menace of extremism. He further said that there is a need to launch a crusade against extremists, looters of national resources as well as those creating hurdles in promotion of education and minimizing the gulf between the rich and the poor and to fight against them at every front. He said that he firmly believes that God helps those who help themselves. He said that history is witness to the fact that a number of nations have faced problems but achieved progress and prosperity.

He said that practical efforts are needed instead of slogans and a decisive war will have to be fought for changing miseries of the nation into joys and happiness. He said that education is the only way to steer the country out of problems and crisis. He said that keeping this fact in view Punjab government has taken historic measures for brining a revolution in education sector and educational targets have been set for 2018. The Chief Minister further said that targets of education cannot be realized without a system of encouragement and punishment in education sector. He said that those performing their duties well will be encouraged and respected while those showing unsatisfactory performance towards achievement of educational targets will be held accountable.

The Chief Minister said that students of Daanish School Hasilpur have won laurels for the country by achieving fifth position in energy turbine in an international science exhibition held in Los Angeles, America and it is a befitting reply to those who have been criticizing Daanish schools. He said Punjab government has made available all out resources for providing quality education to the male and female students of poor families.

Earlier, Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Secretary Education Abdul Jabbar Shaheen and Special Representative of DFID Sir Michael Barber highlighted the aims and objectives of the new phase of Punjab Schools Reforms Roadmap.