Insurgency: We will fight extremism with education, says Babak

Provincial minister claims govt bringing improvement in education sector.

PESHAWAR:

Education is the answer to terrorism. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) will not back down and fight terrorism through education. These were the sentiments of K-P Education Minister Sardar Hussain Babak in a ceremony on World Teachers’ Day on Wednesday.

The event was organised by United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and K-P Elementary and Secondary Education Department (ESED) to pay tribute to teachers for their efforts.

“Terrorists are destroying schools and mosques and we would not negotiate with those challenging the writ of the government,” said Babak, who was the chief guest on the occasion.

He claimed that the government had taken measures for bringing improvement in the education sector, while the education department was planning to launch a public-private partnership programme to open private schools in far-flung areas. He also said that the government had increased teachers’ salaries and provided a service structure to them.

Babak said the government had increased the number of watchmen outside state-run schools in tribal areas. He assured the teachers that the government will  take concrete measures to resolve their problems.

ESED Director Sarwat Jehan talked about ‘Stori Da Pakhtunkhwa’ (Stars of Pakhtunkhwa) Programme to encourage students to excel in education. Under the programme, the top 10 position holders of matriculation and intermediate examinations will receive Rs10,000 and Rs15,000 per month respectively in the form of scholarships, she explained.

Commenting on the role of teachers, Jehan said that teachers can play an important role in students’ lives, as they not only educate them but also turn them into responsible adults.

The speakers agreed that teachers served as building blocks for the nation as they show the right direction to students.

They lamented the fact that nearly 40 per cent of girls in K-P are not enrolled in primary schools.

The students also paid tribute to their teachers and urged their fellows to respect their teachers to achieve success. Babak presented certificates and shields to teachers for their outstanding performance.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 6^th, 2011.