Religious education will be made compulsory till class 12

Measures are part of national education policy

GILGIT: State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman has said religious education will be made compulsory for students till class 12, while new methods of education will be introduced in seminaries to meet modern-day challenges.

He voiced these views while addressing the seventh inter-province educational conference in Gilgit on Thursday. The conference, which will end on Friday, was attended by Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rehman, Higher Education Commission Chairperson Dr Mukhtar and others.



On the occasion, Balighur Rehman said the Holy Quran would be taught with translations up to class 12 in the country.

“In addition, we will also introduce modern education in madrassas to meet modern-day requirements,” the federal minister said. He added seminaries have also agreed on this.



Balighur Rehman added the measures were part of national education policy which they were trying to formulate in the best interest of the country. The minister maintained two technical centres will be established, while his government would increase budget for HEC to promote higher education in the country.

Meanwhile, G-B chief minister said the region has vast potential for research and vowed to help the institutions wishing to play their role effectively.

“We have allocated 22% of our budget on education which is the highest to be spent in this sector in the country,”he said.

The CM added next year they would increase the budget up to 24% to meet growing needs of education in the region.

According to him, the G-B education department required a cohesive monitoring system to ensure whatever is spent is not misused. “We need assistance in setting up a solid monitoring system in the region,” he added.

The 2nd session of the conference was chaired by G-B Governor Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan. The participants spoke at length about education system and ways through which it could be improved.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2016.