Education for all: ‘PEF helping millions of out-of-school children secure their future’
DFID’s assistance in constructing new classrooms praised
DFID’s assistance in constructing new classrooms praised. PHOTO: ISRARUL HAQ/EXPRESS
LAHORE:
A five-member delegation of the Department for International Development (DFID), led by senior education adviser Barbara Payne, met with Punjab Education Foundation chairman Qamarul Islam Raja at his office on Wednesday.
They reviewed the provincial government’s reforms in the education sector and the PEF’s role in providing free education to students through partnership with private schools in all districts of the province.
Members of the delegation appreciated the PEF’s efforts and acknowledged that it had broadened children’s access to quality education.
The PEF chairman appreciated the DFID’s role in supporting development works, especially in the education and health sectors. He said the department’s efforts would help provide long-term stability and prosperity to the people of Pakistan. He said the PEF was working to promote free quality education by strengthening the role of low-fee private schools. He said the PEF had developed a public-private partnership that would cater to the needs of financially vulnerable segments of the society.
He thanked the DFID for helping the PEF reach its target of educating 2.2 million out-of-school children by 2019.
The delegation was given details of a project to construct classrooms that the DFID had sponsored. The chairman said the PEF had shortlisted 16 districts for the purpose, eight of which were in south Punjab.
“We have laid the foundation of an enlightened Pakistan where all children have equal opportunities of education...this will help improve their standards of living.” Payne said that the DFID was interested in long-term institution-building so that the future of millions of children could be secured.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2015.
A five-member delegation of the Department for International Development (DFID), led by senior education adviser Barbara Payne, met with Punjab Education Foundation chairman Qamarul Islam Raja at his office on Wednesday.
They reviewed the provincial government’s reforms in the education sector and the PEF’s role in providing free education to students through partnership with private schools in all districts of the province.
Members of the delegation appreciated the PEF’s efforts and acknowledged that it had broadened children’s access to quality education.
The PEF chairman appreciated the DFID’s role in supporting development works, especially in the education and health sectors. He said the department’s efforts would help provide long-term stability and prosperity to the people of Pakistan. He said the PEF was working to promote free quality education by strengthening the role of low-fee private schools. He said the PEF had developed a public-private partnership that would cater to the needs of financially vulnerable segments of the society.
He thanked the DFID for helping the PEF reach its target of educating 2.2 million out-of-school children by 2019.
The delegation was given details of a project to construct classrooms that the DFID had sponsored. The chairman said the PEF had shortlisted 16 districts for the purpose, eight of which were in south Punjab.
“We have laid the foundation of an enlightened Pakistan where all children have equal opportunities of education...this will help improve their standards of living.” Payne said that the DFID was interested in long-term institution-building so that the future of millions of children could be secured.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2015.