RECORDER REPORT
LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif here Wednesday presided over a meeting which reviewed measures taken under Chief Minister's School Reforms Roadmap. The participants of the meeting expressed satisfaction over the implementation of School Reforms Roadmap and appreciated steps taken by Punjab government in this regard. The meeting also gave approval to setting up of Punjab Education Standard Development Authority, which will be responsible for certification of teachers. It was also decided on this occasion to establish a separate authority for looking after the matters relating to schools running under public-private partnership.
British Educationist Sir Michael Barber gave a briefing on implementation of School Reforms Roadmap.
The Chief Minister said that implementation of School Reforms Roadmap is yielding positive results with regard to improvement of education sector. He said steps taken under School Reforms Roadmap are helping in raising the standard of education. He said education is the key to rapid progress besides being helpful in overcoming problems like terrorism and extremism.
Punjab Chief Minister said that Punjab government has enrolled more than 70,000 children who were engaged in child labour and admission of so many children in schools after rescuing them from child labour is the first example in South Asia. He said teachers' training programme is of fundamental importance in the promotion of quality education as only competent and talented teachers can impart knowledge to students. He directed that full attention should be paid to teachers' training under teachers training programme and modern technology should also be utilized for capacity-building of teachers.
Shahbaz Sharif issued instructions for setting up a special committee for monitoring of teachers' training programme and said that he will personally head this committee. He said committee would look after the matters regarding teachers' training programme on regular basis and ensure speedy implementation of this programme. He directed that institutions should be upgraded for training of teachers and new training institutes should be set up immediately if needed. He directed that teachers' training programme should be further improved with the consultation of international experts.
The Chief Minister said that teachers' training programme is a big challenge and it will have to be met efficiently. He said that Punjab government has recruited more than 150,000 talented and competent teachers on merit basis and the process of recruitment of 80,000 more teachers during current year has commenced. He said these teachers recruited on merit will have to give results. He said programme of setting up of IT labs and provision of tablets in schools has yielded positive results and these measures of the Punjab government are helping in imparting latest knowledge to the children. He said a revolutionary action plan is being implemented for improving the rate of enrolment of children in schools. He said provision of better transport facilities can help in bringing more children to schools. He said that hotline pilot project has been initiated for apprising the people of the steps taken for improvement of schools. He said that this project has initially been started in Bahawalpur and Lahore. He said that after success of this project it will be introduced throughout the province.
Shahbaz Sharif said that setting up of Punjab Education Standard Development Authority will help in improving teaching abilities of teachers. He said that teachers showing good performance will be given prizes while those displaying poor performance will be held accountable. He said promotion of education remained top priority of the government and all out resources will be made available for this purpose. He said that a plan has been devised to construct 36302 additional classrooms in schools up to 2018. He said that additional classrooms are being set up in schools under Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme. The meeting also gave approval to recruitment of 1350 Assistant Educational Officers.
