National Education Policy: Youth input sought in shaping document

Material regarding NEP 2016 available to citizens through website

ISLAMABAD: Educationists and youth activists at a consultative meeting called for the inclusion of youth in designing the proposed National Education Policy (NEP 2016).

The event was organised by Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), in collaboration with the Public Trust and Pakistan Alliance of Independent Schools (PAIS) to discuss the upcoming policy at a local hotel on Thursday.

The event examined the structure of the 2009 policy, along with its outcomes. The policy was also examined in light of the 18th Amendment.

Special guests at the meeting included Government College of Education Training President Abida Shaheen, PAIS Chairman and Boys Scout Association Commissioner Sahibzada Sajjad Masood, PAIS National Coordinator Rana Muneer Afzal, ex-education CDO Raza Zumurad Hussein and ITA Trustee and education consultant Dr Afshan Huma.

UNDP Research Analyst Saira Talha spoke to the audience regarding the United Nation’s post-2015 development agenda, and urged participants to keep these goals in mind when thinking of targets and recommendations.

“We must take any measures necessary to improve competencies,” said Afzal said.

After a baseline discussion on NEP 2016, the consultation was divided into working groups to address issues in education such as quality, access, life skills and so forth. The groups focused on areas including early childhood education, primary education, secondary education, special education, adult literacy, financing for education and governance.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.