Do it for the kids: Up education budget: speakers

The event was divided into three sessions which each began with a presentation from the Education Youth Ambassadors


Our Correspondent September 17, 2015
PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD:


Speakers at a seminar urged the federal government to enhance the budget allocation for education by marking it as the pivotal factor in national growth and development.


They also recommended that the government’s new national education policy should address the accountability process in the education sector as well.

The seminar, “Finance More to Educate More”, was held at a local hotel to mark International Literacy Day.



Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) in collaboration with Oxfam held the seminar on education financing. Azad Jammu Kashmir Education Minister Mian Abdul Waheed and various provincial education ministry representatives, education experts, and students contributed their insights for the 2016 education policy.

Waheed said we need to change perceptions of needs and requirements for better distribution of resources for education. On the significance of awareness in the general public, the minister said the common man must come forward and compel their leaders to work on basic rights such as education.

The event was divided into three sessions which each began with a presentation from the Education Youth Ambassadors (EYAs) of ITA’s EYA program for Pakistan. Moving forward, each panelist gave their suggestions on the topic and then held an open floor for discussion on any recommendations being formed.

In the first session, ‘Quality vs Quantity’, Silver Oaks School System Managing Director Hassan Sattar said, “Smart is not something you are, it’s something you get through…lasting curiosity to learn and acquiring intellectual virtues for lifelong wellbeing.”

Dr Vardah Malik, a public-private partnership education specialist, said the private sector was not previously concerned by education, but now they are looking to the education sector, which is a positive sign of development for communities, as partnerships are a way forward.

In the second session, ‘Gender Responsive Financing’, K-P Elementary and Secondary Education Department Additional Director Sultan Mehmood, highlighted, “It is important to have skill development to meet the demand for jobs.”

Rutgers WPF Country Representative Qadeer Baig said the general mindset in Pakistan is that women stay at home, and thus need not be educated, but the fact that they lead generations it equally important for the development of Pakistan.”

Sindh Education and Literacy Department Literacy and Non-Formal Education Director Alam Thaheem added, “Girls’ education should be incentivised in a safe and secure environment”.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 18th,  2015.

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