Pakistan: New policy to bring uniformity in education system: Qazi

[Francis M. Hult]

Kashar World News

http://www.kashar.net/technews/complete.asp?id=2736

New policy to bring uniformity in education system: Qazi

ISLAMABAD, May 26 (SANA): A two-day National Education Conference is being 
held from May 30 to 31 for framing a new Education Policy aimed at bringing 
uniformity in the education system of the country. 

This was stated by Federal Education Minister (Retd) Lt. General Javed Ashraf 
Qazi at a briefing here Friday. 

He said the proposed ten year Education Policy will bring uniformity in the 
education system of the country. It will focus on enhancing the literacy rate 
and improving the standard of education in the country which is imperative for 
overall development. A new curriculum is being introduced from class 1 to 12 
to meet the future challenges in the emerging era of science and technology. 

He said the examination system is also being revamped so that the true 
intelligence of the students would be judged. He said it has been decided to 
hold composite examination of 9th and 10th class from 2007 in Punjab, NWFP and 
Balochistan and new academic year will be started from September 1 this year 
throughout the country. 

He said it has also been decided that English Language learning would be 
included from Class One to acquire the latest knowledge in various fields. 
Urdu Language will also be taught in English Medium Schools as a compulsory 
subject. 

Islamiyat subjects will be taught from class-3rd with the addition of another 
chapter of Haqooq-al-Abad. The subject will be compulsory up to twelve class 
level. He said other subjects such as Computer Science, History, Geography and 
Pakistan Studies will be included in class 6th, 7th and 8th class and the 
number of subjects was reduced from 46 to 21. He said Pakistan Studies and 
Islamabad will be mandatory subjects in 9th and 10th class. The government has 
already made education free up to Matriculation level to ensure maximum 
enrolment in the educational institutions. He said emphasis will be given to 
promote education level and in this connection a number of reforms are being 
introduced through High Education Commission. 

Under the new reform programme, the government is emphasizing to promote 
technical education and in this connection vocational and poly technical 
institutions are being set up at District level to produce skilled manpower to 
meet the future requirements at home and abroad. 

The Minister rejected the criticism of some circles about the deletion of 
Quranic verses from Islamiyat. 

Regarding the next Education Budget, Javed Ashraf Qazi said that the Ministry 
has proposed to enhance the Education Budget to 4 percent of the GDP. He said 
under the directives of the President Laboratories, drinking water, 
electricity and other facilities will be provided in all schools in rural 
areas as well as in the urban areas of the country. 

Regarding Non-Formal Education, the Minister said that Basic Education 
Authority for Non-formal schools have been set up. He said Education census 
has been completed and it will be announced at the end of next month. 

To a question regarding syllabus of Deeni Madaris, he said Mathematic and 
science subjects will be taught in these institutions. 

He said that he has recommended to the Finance Ministry that all Primary 
teachers should be placed in Grade 9. They should also be given teaching 
allowance and their Grades be linked with their Education. The Education 
Ministry has also recommended increase in the salaries of the teachers. 

To another question the Minister said that no teacher will go to USA for 
training and now all the courses are being held in Pakistan.