Over 600 schools to be revived

CM seeks plan to regularise 14,000 educators

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has called for a plan to regularise the service of 14,000 assistant education officers (AEOs) and secondary school educators (SSEs) in the province.

Chairing a meeting to review a Public Schools Reorganisation Programme, she directed the authorities concerned to restore 603 non-functional schools across Punjab. The chief minister was informed that the process of outsourcing 5,863 government schools in the province would be completed by August 5.

In addition, about 400,000 students will be equipped with information technology skills in the next four years.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said a target had been set to construct and rehabilitate 1,000 playgrounds of government schools in the next six months.” She said weekly and monthly competitions in various fields should be organised in government schools.

The chief minister ordered comprehensive mapping of the schools to determine the facilities and needs across Punjab.

She approved the launch of a Green School Programme, under which each student will plant at least one sapling and digital mapping of the plants will be done.

She was apprised that the CM Punjab School Nutrition Programme’s pilot project in Rajanpur, Layyah and Bhakkar would start from August.

Proposals for the introduction of spoken English and character building classes in government schools were also reviewed.

The chef minister called for assigning duties to members of the provincial assembly for monitoring the schools. An overview of making the e-transfer process easy and feasible for teachers was also made.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the introduction of 12 technology courses at the matriculation level will be ensured.

She also agreed to make the school management councils functional and effective. She said the classrooms, information technology labs and the management committees could be operated at a low cost.

The participants of the meeting agreed that launch teachers’ meetings and quarterly reports card of students in government schools.

The chief minister called for guidelines for developing a comprehensive policy for revamping the school system. She also reviewed the provision of virtual reality, tech and art rooms along with other modern facilities in the government schools.

It was decided that the Punjab Education, Curriculum, Training and Assessments Authority (PECTAA) would be formed by merging the curriculum and textbook board, Quaid-i-Azam Academy of Educational Development and Punjab Examination Commission.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, ”Improvement in the system cannot be done without introducing a reward and punishment system.” She added, ”Lack of funds for education will not be tolerated.”

The chief minister said Early Childhood Education Centres of Excellence would be established in every district.

The chief minister was briefed in detail by Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat on the education restructuring programme. He said a district school monitoring system was in place.

The minister said 200,000 out-of-school children were studying at 6,000 literacy campuses in 12 districts.

Doorstep services

Chairing a meeting to review services provided to citizens through the Maryam Ki Dastak mobile application, then chief minister issued directives to increase the number of services provided in Lahore to 40 and then to 65 by August.

She was briefed by the Punjab Information Technology Board chairman on plan to expand the services offered to the citizens under the programme.

The services will start in every division of the province from August 14. Services of the police, revenue, municipalities, excise, development authorities and other departments will be available through the mobile application.

Domicile, e-stamping, birth, death, marriage certificates, property and token tax, motor vehicle transfer and registration facility can be availed through Dastak app.

Citizens can apply for the services through an appointment with a representative, web portal, mobile app or call centre.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Zafar Dal and other relevant officers participated in the meeting.