Education for all: First-ever Knowledge Festival kicks off today

Festival aims to provide information to students about their higher education avenues and career options.

ISLAMABAD: The first-ever ‘Islamabad Knowledge City Festival’ will kick off at Jinnah Convention Centre here on Friday. The four-day festival has been organised by the Ministry of Education and its affiliated organisation, the National Book Foundation (NBF). The slogan of the event is “Knowledge for All -- All for Knowledge”.  Federal Minister for Education Sardar Aseff Ahmed Ali will inaugurate the festival. Schoolchildren will present flowers to their teachers.

“It is in pursuance of the prime minister’s directive to make Islamabad an education city,” says Athar Tahir, federal education secretary, who conceived and developed the unique idea.

The four-day festival aims at showcasing information on educational institutions and their achievements to create a knowledge-sharing culture and awareness among the people and about their fundamental right of access to knowledge, Tahir, who is a short-story writer and poet, added.

“It is the need of the hour to create an atmosphere in which knowledge flourishes and provide a platform to people where they can share knowledge with each other, understand its importance in meeting the modern challenges and fighting the rising tide of obscurantism in society,” remarked Mazharul Islam, Executive Director, National Book Foundation and Coordinator of the event.

It will also project the national perspective on education and will provide a complete package of information to students about their future career options and higher education avenues. The festival’s special focus will be on poor children to bring them in the mainstream of schooling.

Over 80 government and private organisations, literary and cultural bodies, publishing houses and research centres are participating in the festival showcasing their products at their separate stalls.

Exhibitions

Educational institutions will exhibit their products and share information with the visitors about their activities.

An exhibition of photographs will feature the life, works and struggle of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal, Ghalib and Faiz.

Exhibitions displaying scientific models, photographs on earthquake, weather forecast, floods, mineral resources, miniature paintings, and postal stamps will also be part of the festival.

A makeshift library will offer membership to the public, teachers and students. The first mobile library in the federal capital will also be launched on the occasion.

A grand book fair, in which more than 25 publishers and booksellers will participate, will also be held. Books on all subjects from politics to art and culture, literature to social issues, manuscripts and rare books will be on display.

Special discount on these books will be offered to the visitors. A computer laboratory will be established with internet facilities for students and visitors to interact with educational institutions worldwide. At the ‘Artisans at Work’ expo, master artisans of paper mache will display their skills and crafts.

Seminars, discussions and lectures on various topics, including education, art and culture, literature and knowledge management will also be part of the festival.

Screening of documentaries and films on museums, science education, performing arts, land and culture of Pakistan, Sufism and famous children’s plays and Ikebana demonstration, will be some of the main attractions for children in addition to knowledge-based games, a mathematics Olympiad, book reading by NBF book ambassadors, and meeting of children with celebrities and famous personalities.

The ‘Book Anthem’, prepared for National Book Day, will be presented at the inaugural ceremony of the festival.

Declaration

Visitors will also sign a declaration pledging to make efforts for the promotion of knowledge and development of education for the prosperity and well-being of the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2011.