LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to launch double shift in schools having a large number of students and gave approval to the policy for recruiting 42,798 new teachers.
He was presiding over a meeting yesterday which also decided to expand Early Childhood Education Programme.
The chief minister instructed the department for immediately starting evening classes in such schools where there are a large number of students and a comprehensive survey should be conducted for this purpose.
Giving approval to the policy for recruitment of 42,798 new teachers, Shehbaz Sharif said that it will help overcome shortage of teachers. He said that the new teachers should be recruited purely on merit and in a transparent manner.
He said that Early Childhood Education Programme is a splendid project and its expansion will yield positive results as well as improve enrolment rate in schools. He directed that this programme should be implemented in south Punjab on priority basis.
Shehbaz Sharif said that 90 percent missing facilities have been provided in schools at a cost of billions of rupees while the target of ensuring hundred percent facilities in schools will be achieved during current fiscal year. He said that the target of enrolment of every child of school going age will have to be achieved.
He said that due to educational programmes of Punjab government, no child will remain deprived of education. The Chief Minister said that teachers’ training programme is of key importance for the promotion of quality education and there is a need for evolving a comprehensive mechanism for this purpose.
The chief minister said that modern technology should be utilized for teachers’ training programme while the models of other countries should also be considered for this purpose. He said that teachers’ training is a useful investment to ensure a bright future for the coming generations.
He said that standard of education has improved due to effective measures and solid strategy of Punjab government. The meeting also reviewed implementation of the decisions with regard to promotion of quality education in the province.
Secretary Schools Education gave a briefing to the meeting in this regard. Provincial Minister for Education Rana Mashhood Ahmed, Chief Secretary, Chairman Punjab Education Foundation Engineer Qamar ul Islam, secretaries concerned and educationists attended the meeting.
Separately, Special Representative of British Department for International Development Sir Michael Barber and other members of schools reforms roadmap team paid tributes to Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for taking effective measures for the promotion of quality education in the province.
Sir Michael Barber said that the way Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif is working with commitment and determination for the provision of quality education to male and female children and teachers’ training will yield positive results.
He said that time given by Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the improvement of education sector is a proof of his commitment. He said that substantial work is being carried out in Punjab for providing quality education to children in schools and the rate of enrolment has improved.
The chief minister during the meeting appreciated the roadmap team and Provincial Secretary Ali Jan Khan for their efficiency regarding uplift of education sector and achievement of the educational targets.
Meanwhile, Shehbaz Sharif said that with to grace of Allah Almighty and the love of Kashmiri people, the PML-N has got a record mandate in Azad Kashmir elections.
He thanked the people of Azad Kashmir for expressing full confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said that Kashmiri people have supported the politics of selfless service, honesty and decency and rejected the politics of chaos, allegations and corruption with the power of their vote.
The chief minister said that those who have got loans of billions of rupees written off and have deposits in Swiss banks should see the writing on the wall and give up their negative politics. He said that public service is the pivot of PML-N politics and new records of service to the people will be set in the days to come.
CONDOLENCE: Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of veteran politician Meraj Muhammad Khan.
In a condolence message, the chief minister prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the members of the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.
The chief minister paid tributes to the political and public services of Meraj Muhammad Khan and said that he was a symbol of decency and tolerance in politics. He said that struggle of the Meraj Muhammad Khan for the rights of the people and supremacy of democracy will always be remembered.
