Revamping of 200 capital schools to be completed by Dec

Islamabad: Capital Administration and Development Division will complete up-gradation work of 200 educational institutions by the end of December under the Prime Minister’s Education Reform Programme.
The pace on which up-gradation work of educational institutions is going on indicates that it will be completed timely, Spokesman CADD, Ateeq-ur-Rehman said while talking to APP. He said that State Minister for CADD, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry has also expressed satisfaction over the progress of work so far during a meeting held recently. The up-gradation of the institutions included the provision of clean drinking water facility, constructing washroom blocks and additional classrooms, improving the existing facilities, installation of barbed wires etc.
He said an amount of Rs2.74 billion is being spent on the up-gradation of these 200 institutions. Spokesman CA&DD informed that the division is working on preparing PC-I for up-gradation of other 200 educational institutions. He said the principals of these institutions have been asked to identify the missing facilities and convey their demands to CADD.–APP

Local artists get opportunity to showcase talent at NTF

ISLAMABAD: The local artists and theatre production houses got fair opportunity to showcase their flair and creativity for the performing arts during the ongoing 12th National Theatre Festival, 2017.
The largest ever theatre festival is being organised by the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) in connection with the 70th independence anniversary of Pakistan. The objective of the festival is to foster healthy theatrical activities by providing a national platform to the leading theatre groups in the country.
Theatre groups from all over the country are participating in the said festival and avail a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent at the national level and share their ideas with like-minded theatre enthusiasts.
The audience appreciated the performances and efforts of PNCA for the promotion of serious theatre. Viewers were of the opinion that theatre with a cause is the need of the hour. Director General PNCA Syed Jamal Shah told APP that total 45 plays will be performed during the month-long festival as it will be the 45th anniversary of the PNCA. He said that all leading theatre groups from across the country are participating in the annual festival. Jamal Shah said the PNCA is making all efforts to consolidate the cultural synergy of the provinces and other federating units. The month-long National Theatre Festival will conclude on November 30.–APP

50 young entrepreneurs get training certificates

ISLAMABAD: As many as 50 young entrepreneurs received certificates at the closing ceremony of `Training of Entrepreneurs’ organized by Children’s Global Network Pakistan under its apex Early Childhood Care and Education body Parwaan Pakistan’ at Islamabad Model School G 9/3 on Tuesday.
The closing ceremony among others was attended by Syed Mubashir Hussain Additional Director General Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Education Development (QAED) formerly known as Directorate of Staff Development (DSD), Jan Madad Education Specialist UNICEF Pakistan, Ms.Mehnaz Aziz President Parwaan& Chief Executive and Founding Director Children’s Global Network Pakistan.–APP
Syed Mubashir Husain Additional Director General QAED in remarks said that a society cannot develop unless its children are provided quality early childhood education. Keeping this in mind the Punjab government has opened ECE centres in 5,000 schools with more 5,000 to follow, he added. Jan Madad Education Specialist UNICEF Pakistan said that ECCE business is a moral enterprise with the potential to become a movement.
Earlier, Mehnaz Aziz President Parwaan and Chief Executive and Founding Director Children’s Global Network Pakistan in her welcome remarks urged the entrepreneurs to carry out their work diligently and provide quality pre-primary education through their centres by following the international standards shared with them during the training.
A group of young entrepreneurs said, “Social entrepreneurship, under Parwaan Preschool – A School Readiness Programme, has given us a direction and confidence to serve the society and to work for the future of Pakistan that is our children.”
Parwaan Preschool Programme, implemented in collaboration with Ilm Ideas 2, currently being implemented in 14 districts- Khushab, Bahawalpur, Kohat, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Multan, Peshawar, Swat, Gwadar, LasbelaMardan, Rawalpindi, Charsadda and ICT caters to the early year’s education and development needs of poor and marginalized children of age 3-5 years and building capacities of youth entrepreneurs to open up ECD centres in their respective communities.