ISLAMABAD - Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal yesterday announced the launching of an education campaign on April 1, in collaboration with the provincial governments, to ensure 100 per cent enrolment in schools by 2018.
The framework for the plan will be prepared by March 22 and the education campaign for national enrolment drive will be launched from April 1, the Minister stated this while addressing a Press conference here after a meeting with provincial representatives on national enrolment drive.
The meeting was attended by State Minister for Education, Baligh-ur-Rehman and representatives from all the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and FATA.
“Our government is determined to spend 4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education by 2018,” he said.
Ahsan Iqbal said that 100 per cent enrolment of children in school at primary level would be ensured.
He said that to achieve the target of 100 per cent enrolment not only Federal and provincial governments but also the whole nation needs to work together to achieve the goal.
He said that the letters would be written to all the Chief Ministers within seven days and a meeting would be held at Chief Ministers level.
He said that at every district, District Coordination Officer and District Education Officer (DEO) would cooperate with each other to make the campaign successful at every district.
In this campaign, Federal and provincial Education Ministers, Higher Education Commission, students of universities, media and civil society would play their role, he said, adding, that the students of universities will go to rural areas to educate the students.
He said, “we should also involve National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in the campaign.”
He further informed that very soon, the Prime Minister would hold meeting with the Chief Ministers on this issue.
He said that the Ministers and the members of Opposition parties should also participate in this meeting to give their proposals.
Ahsan Iqbal said that Project Management Units would be established at Federal and provincial levels to monitor the exercise.
He said that concession should be given to the children for their enrolment and to arrange non-formal schools for adults.
Replying to a query, Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan government and the US are discussing ways and means to get 10,000 Pakistani PhD students trained in US universities.
He said that the government has drawn a roadmap to train 10,000 PhD scholars in different areas including science, technology, engineering, math as well as in the Social Sciences for the country’s development and growth.
He said that the government is allocating funds from its own resources for developing the Ph.D programmes.