Education minister says textbook with incorrect maps was not used in any public school. PHOTO: NNI
LAHORE: The geography textbook with incorrect maps was not used at any public school in the province. Its printing was stopped immediately after the report of incorrect maps and orders issued for its removal from the market, Education Minister Rana Mashhood said on Saturday.
He was speaking at a meeting of chairmen of education boards in the province.
Mashhood said that of the 150,000 geography textbooks supplied to the market about 50,000 contained incorrect maps.
He said the humanities director at the Punjab Textbook Board (PTBB) was repatriated to her parent department and an assistant subject specialist and an illustrator terminated from service two weeks ago.
He said a six-member committee had been formed to further investigate the matter. He said the committee was scheduled to submit its report to the government in two days. He said the report of the inquiry committee would be made public.
PTBB Chairman Lieutenant General (r) Muhammad Akram Khan is chairing the committee. Its other members include Punjab University Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran, Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) Chairman Khalid Hameed Sheikh, PEC Chief Executive Officer Nasir Iqbal Malik, DSD Project Director Ihsan Bhatti and Schools Education Special Secretary Ahmed Ali Kamboh.
The education minister said the government was working to improve the performance of education boards and added that it would soon start computerisation of boards’ records for the purpose.
He said in order to improve accountability a performance review would be held for all boards every three months. He said third party audits of the performance review process would also be arranged to ensure transparency.
Lahore Board Chairman Nasrullah Virk, Bahawalpur Board Chairman Rana Masud Akhtar, Dera Ghazi Khan Board Chairman Abdul Waheed Qaisrani, Faisalabad Board Chairman Ghulam Muhammad, Gujranwala Board Chairman Muhammad Aslam, Multan Board Chairman Riaz Ahmad, Rawalpindi Board Chairman Muhammad Zareef, Sahiwal Board Chairman Anwaar Ahmad, Sargodha Board Chairman Sirajul Haq and Punjab Boards Committee of Chairmen Secretary Faqir Muhammad Kaifi were also present on the occasion.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 28th, 2015.
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