Fata: Implementation of educational reforms to enhance literacy rate

PESHAWAR: The literacy rate will enhance in all provinces including Fata following implementation of educational reforms and projects introduced by the government in its record sixth federal budget 2018-19 and is being termed it a leap-step forward to bring revolution in education sector in Pakistan.

They said the new education programme called '100 100 100' introduced by the PML-N government in federal budget 2018-19 would give further boost to literacy rate in the country including K-P and Fata besides attracting a large number of students to schools, colleges and universities.

While terming the new education programme a significant step forward to promote literacy rate and education sector, senior educationist and economics expert, Prof Dr Muhammad Naeem said it was a landmark programme of the government, which would increase students' enrolment in public sector schools viz-a-viz encourage them to get higher education in their selected subjects without financial woes.

Under this new landmark programme, 100% Pakistani children would be enrolled in schools, 100% children will be retained in schools and 100% will graduate from schools and therefore, it was called as 100 100 100 in budget 2018-19.

The new programme would help promote women education especially in rural areas and would discourage dropout of female students in particular and poor students in general.

In-spite of the fact that education was now a devolved subject, still the federal government was helping provinces in education sector to equip students with ornament of education and this commitment of PML-N government was being widely appreciated in K-P and Fata.

"I think great responsibilities are now rest on the shoulders of provincial governments to introduce such like goal oriented programmes to enhance education besides providing better facilities to students at their doorsteps," Dr Naeem said.

He said CPEC was a great opportunity for Pakistanis and we will take full advantage of it only when we have a quality educated manpower and technical workforce can be achieved only by increasing literacy ratio in schools, enhancing facilities for students, capacity building of teachers, up to date education curriculum with modern days' requirement and construction of technical institutes in the country.

Parliamentary leader of PML-N in KP Assembly, Sardar Aurangzaib Nalota has lauded 100 100 100 education programme and declared it significant step forward to bring revolution in education sector in the country.

"Whenever PML-N Government came into power, had taken practical steps for promotion of education by introducing pro-education reforms and policies to facilitate students besides increasing Higher Education Commission (HEC)'s budget significantly during last five years, which was unprecedented in the country's education's history," he told APP.

He said PML-N Government commitment towards promotion of education can be judged from the fact that on January 12, 2017, the then Prime Minister, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had personally distributed keys of state-of the art buses to scores of schools and colleges in Islamabad under the PM Education Reforms Programme (PMERP) with an objective to provide quality transport facilities to students and teachers.

In addition to up-gradation of schools, he said the government has provided latest facilities and an excellent environment to students for studies besides addressing problems of missing facilities in public sector schools.

Under PMERP, Montessori classes were started in government schools to provide quality education to toddlers in a friendly environment with full focus on learning of knowledge through playful and colorful activities.

He said PML-N government diverted maximum resources to provide upgraded educational and health facilities to people across the country and no government in the past can match our five years performance especially in development sector.



Nalota said a huge development package of Rs1 billion for Islamia College Peshawar (ICP) and additional grant of Rs50 million for welfare of its students and teachers were announced by then PM Nawaz Sharif during his visit to this historic college last year in connection of its centennial celebrations, which was unprecedented in the education history of K-P.

PM free laptop scheme, fee reimbursement scheme and skill development programme for youth had immensely helped students to excel in studies without facing financial problems. Natola also welcomed new 100 100 100 education programme and termed it pro-education and people's friendly.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2018.