PTI agrees to consult JI, other coaltion partners before making changes in syllabus. PHOTO: FILE
“JI has accepted the request of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, over ministry of education in the provincial cabinet on the condition that certain recommendations put forward by us for the promotion of education in K-P will be incorporated,” said JI central Deputy Chief and K-P Senior Minister Sirajul Haq.
Addressing a press conference at Chief Minister house late on Tuesday, the two coalition partners announced that they had reached a compromise over the ministry allotments.
Flanked by PTI provincial information secretary and deputy parliamentary leader in K-P Shuakat Yousafzai, and JI’s Shabbir Ahmad, Sirajul Haq informed that “the ruling PTI government had earlier reached an agreement to give three departments to JI, including finance, education and Zakat & Ushr in the provincial cabinet.”
However, the PTI chairman had requested their coalition government partners to let the education ministry remain with the ruling party. "We honoured the request of PTI chief and have settled for the local government," Haq announced. He revealed that the PTI had also the offered the ministry of communication and works to sweeten the deal, but the JI refused this.
PTI though still had to agree to certain conditions of the JI for retaining the education ministry. Yousufzai said that the PTI had agreed to consult the JI and other coalition partners before finalising education syllabus in the province. Among other JI recommendations were establishing a joint commission for framing policies in the education sector.
Yousafzai said that the speculations in media about differences between the coalition partners were totally wrong, adding that there was no such issue between them. He added that the PTI-led coalition government was on same page, and would jointly work for elimination of terrorism, establishment of sustainable peace, and eradication of corruption in the province.
He furthermore said that the government would take steps for the creation of job opportunities and attracting local and foreign investments. He informed that the foreign investors were showing their willingness to invest in energy sector, which could helpful to address the growing shortages of electricity in the province.
Yousafzai informed that the 12 members of the K-P cabinet would take oath on Thursday, June 14. When asked about the finalisation of names of ministries, he replied that the final decision would be taken on Wednesday in a meeting of coalition partners.
Responding to a question about presentation of K-P budget, Haq said that the ministry of finance had proposed the date of June 17 but a formal date would be announced after consulting with the Speaker of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.
COMMENTS (22)
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JI is and was anti Pakistan.
I think it's quite positive these issues which are natural to crop up in coalitions have been somewhat sorted out right in the beginning - so that we don't see severe issues later. Curriculum and syllabus in any case should be decided through consensus and debate among various sections of society so has to be consultative - this includes the religious section as well - as much as some of us might not like it.
As for education in general - we shouldn't assume ideological issues in syllabus the core reason for our educational decline. Other pressing issues such as ghost schools, management, teacher training, facilities, and even in syllabus things like inculcating critical thinking in our children - even if PTI and JI don't see eye to eye on some issues in syllabus, it is worth cooperating on at least these basic issues so more and more of our children get good education in state schools.
There's a lot of work at hand and a lot in common in agendas - one must work on those on priority - consensus building will always require some time.
For God sake, Please don not try the education ministry like what the people in the pas governments done with that. Think critically and do something different away of all these traditional courses.....Hope PTI will do Good with the Ministry of Education in KP
@Kaleem: that tells us for PTI how imp education is.
30 days to decide education ministry and 90 days to end corruption? Parvez khatak said, you have 60 days to eradicate corruption in police, electricity thefts, govt departments and all other places. Hurry up!!!!
Exactly what are JI's recommendations regarding education?
First you should strictly instruct your MPA's not to interfere in tranfers/postings and promotions of educations department staff particularly teachers;
Secondly you should eliminate ghost schools;
Third you should strictly monitor the progress of every school and put maximum information about education department and schools online. Better to reveiw the performance of department on every 6 month basis.
Fourthly provide hard area alowance to teachers serving in hard areas i.e. remote areas.
Fifthly start intorduction of reforms slowely and gradually and not abruptly ....
I beleiev even if you implement the first three steps, the education deparment will produce miracles despite absence of drastic changes!!!Education department of KP was particulalry manipulated and destroyed by MMA government, and thats why JI is once again eying this ministry.
The back-bone of any stable society is their tax system. PTI need to make some solid and computerised reforms in that direction. Once that is fixed, and the chances of corruption is close to zero, we will have money for education, health and all other things.
Thank God!
Poor ET, much ado about nothing. Time to find another inane topic to try to put down PTI.
A well thought out plan, and a well thought out strategy which everybody agrees upon is worth the wait, I would recommend that PTI,JI,QWP,AJIP study, critique, and enhance the existing plans for education, electricity, anti-corruption, local bodies and then find the right people to do the job and provide oversight and project management. I like what I see already. It is better to have 4 players looking at something instead of 1 (PML-N -Punjab, PPP - Sindh)
Sane decision !!
JI would be happy as long as they have a final say in the education and particularly syllabus. What is taught to the kids is the most imp factor for JI and all religious parties for imposing Sharia on Pakistan. The picture of New Pakistan is finally appearing. While we are at it let us keep the women behind the niqab and away from the imp posts in the cabinet.
It was really really stupid of PTI KP leaders to agree to give Education to JI. Thankfully that's not going to happen. The PTI has an extensive Education policy and to agree to give away one of the central aspects of PTI's development initiative is moronic to say the least and erodes my confidence in their judgement. PTI seems to be getting manhandled by JI with their demands. I don't know if they will be able to bring about change with such a weak stance. I hope they prove me wrong.
PTI does not value local government if it is giving it to JI. Local government systems are being modernized. JI has not demonstrated it has any notion of this fact or how local government structures can effect economies.
So IK recovers from his first blunder. There are others he needs to address.....like maintaining the Women's Ministry, and many many more to come. This was a controversy he should have anticipated from the start, and its worrisome that he didn't. Education in the hands of the mullah brigade? One shudders just thinking of it.
Thanks God, the issue was resolved amicably. It is encouraging that both PTI and JI give that much importance to education. Hope for a bright tomorrow.
Faith in education of KP now restored.
JI and education ministry should be a no no ...................................
Alahmadolillah. Relief. But still the syllabus for students will be made under advice from Maududi's kinsmen. what a tragedy for NayaPakistan. Mullah is going to ruin the KPK with their lame coalition and adjustment demands. Be brave PTI. kick them out somehow. Make KPK a true NayaKPK. best of luck
Thats better.
While IK and PTI are busy in wheeling and dealing with the JI demands it is about time they should include some women in the cabinet as well. They claim to be popular among women but they never stop depriving them of their rightful representation as the 50% of population. How long would Pakistani women take it and not doing anything for their rights?