March 14, 2016
News
Govt committed to equip country with modern education
APP
ISLAMABAD: Promotion of education and enhancement of literacy rate is definitely the most-effective means for the socio-economic progress of a nation that not only reflects the country’s future but also presents its face before the world.
The youth of Pakistan has been ignored over the years but has the potential to prove its worth if provided an educational environment to flourish as a true contributor in country’s development. This untreated treasure is defined by a state through its policies and plans to make it a precious asset for the benefit of the country and its inhabitants. Acknowledging the importance of education in today’s Pakistan, the incumbent government has come up with some practical plans to promote education as promised earlier.
State Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said that as many as 200 schools and colleges of the federal capital would be upgraded within six to eight months under Prime Minister’s Education Reforms Programme.
He said that in the first phase, the structures of the 22 public educational institutions have been completed adding that the required teachers would be hired on priority and would also be properly trained.
He said that the country is facing numerous difficulties only because of the lack of education but now the government has decided to promote the education sector on urgent basis.
He said that the past governments did not pay full attention to the education sector adding that the present government of PML N is working practically for the promotion of this sector in the country. The minister said, “We have planned to upgrade Islamabad Model College for Girls F/7 2 into the university and in this regard a comprehensive work has been completed and the renovation of educational institutions would be started before opening of new institutions”.
It has been highly praised but some critics think that it should have been reached those living in far-flung areas of the country.
Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar said that in the second phase, the government has set a target of distributing 200,000 laptops among students, half of which would be assembled in Pakistan while in the third phase, manufacturing of laptops locally is under consideration.
The commencement of Prime Minister (PM) Youth Business Loan Scheme is another step to reduce unemployment. This scheme is aimed at providing country’s educated youth up to two million rupees as soft loan to establish independent business and contribute in economic sphere. The country’s literacy rate has always remained a matter of concern due to lack of financial resources in a large segment of society. Due to financial constraints, brilliant students are unable to get higher education, where fee is beyond their reach forcing them to leave their dreams unachieved.
To eradicate this problem, government has introduced fee reimbursement scheme that will facilitate the students from under-developed areas. HEC spokesperson Ayesha Ikram said 60,000 students of under-developed areas benefited from this scheme initiated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. She said after the successful completion of first phase, the initiative has been extended to more than 100 areas of the country with an allocation of Rs 2 billion. The Youth Skill Development Programme is meant and designed to train at least 22,000 educated workforce and would be given a stipend of Rs 25,000 for sixth months for which an amount of Rs 715 million has already been allocated. This scheme will help the labour class attain useful training to establish their own businesses. Knowledge is only beneficial if it is applied practically.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk