Promoting education: CM launches enrolment drive across K-P

New medium of instruction introduced in govt schools.

PESHAWAR/BATTAGRAM: The provincial government is planning to launch a school-building campaign this year and philanthropists and overseas Pakistani will be asked to contribute, said Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak on Tuesday.

While addressing the inaugural ceremony of the government’s Enrolment Campaign 2014 at Govt Higher Secondary School No.1 Peshawar Cantt, the CM said his government is putting all its efforts into ensuring equal education opportunities for the people.

Khattak further said parent-teacher councils will be set up which will highlight problems plaguing public schools and the government will address those shortcomings.

Earlier, the CM inaugurated the drive by enrolling several students and distributing books among them.

Battagram

Enrolment day was also observed in Battagram on Monday to encourage children to join government schools. Non-governmental organisation Save the Children arranged the event at Government Centennial Model High School Battagram.

Speaking on the occasion, Assistant Commissioner Zakir Hussain said, “Prosperity and development in a society are directly linked to education and it is the need of the hour to bring the number of out-of-school children to zero.”

He urged parents to enrol their children of school going age at their nearest schools.

Asif Abbasi, the programme in-charge of Save the Children, said since Battagram had one of the lowest literacy rates, civil society organisations in collaboration with government departments are taking efforts to motivate parents to get their out-of-school children enrolled.

AC Zakir Hussain, officials of education department, National Commission for Human Development and teachers attended the event.

Changed medium of instruction

It was a historic day for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government as public school students of grade 1 began their academic year by learning General Knowledge and Mathematics in the English language.

Despite facing criticism from several political figures, the government has succeeded in implementing a gradual change in the medium of instruction on public schools.

Jamil Hussain, a government teacher said students, parents and teachers were equally excited about the change.

Hussain admitted that initially he was of the view that the changed syllabus could make it difficult for teachers and students, however, after he received training conducted by the government, the doubts disappeared.

According to Hussain, the students were eager and motivated to begin learning in English.

Parents have termed the change a positive step saying it would reduce the difference between state-run and private educational institutes.

Naimat Khan, a daily wage earner from Sherkera, said he had already enrolled his children to the nearest government school so that his children could receive education which is at par with private schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2014.