Government working towards achieving educational goals: Baligh

Islamabad
Minister for Education and Professional Training, Baligh-Ur-Rehman has stated that in order to achieve any target, a vision is required, and we are very proud that our PML-N government was the first one to introduce the first Vision of 2010 and now Vision 2025 under the dynamic leadership of Ahsan Iqbal.
Unfortunately, we could not achieve our educational goals but we are working towards it. All provinces have increased their spending on education and there is always room for the improvement.
Baligh-Ur-Rehman was addressing the seminar on ‘developing National Action Plan towards achieving 90% literacy rate as envisaged in vision 2025’, along with the Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal here on Friday.
He said that we should not set unrealistic goals as we have to keep in view other constraints as well. According to article 25-A it’s our collective responsibility to educate each and every child in the country. Education without character building and civic sense is nothing so we need to focus on these areas as well, stated the minister.
PSLM survey regarding the literacy rate is not accurate as they take sample survey which could not be accurate but figures obtained by AEPAM’S (Academy of Educational Planning and Management) are accurate so we should rely on their figures, emphasised the minister. According to AEPAM survey literacy rate has increased to 60% but still it’s very low as compared to other countries.
Minister of State stressed that we should focus on adult literacy programmes as there are many people who are unable to complete their education due to many reasons. Therefore, I have given the task to NCHD (National Commission of Human Development) to introduce Accelerated Learning Programmes which will be beneficial for masses. And last but not the least we should give special attention to girls literacy/education, he said.
Speaking on the occasion Ahsan Iqbal said that we need a breakthrough performance in the field of education, out of box ideas are expected from such highly skilled and able people here. I congratulate NCHD, UNICEF and Ministry of Education for taking these initiatives and hope that better and workable outcomes would come out soon.
The minister of state for education attended the ‘Consultative Workshop on Development of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Strategy for Schools’, arranged by UNICEF, later in the day at Serena Hotel.
He admired the efforts of UNICEF for taking up this initiative. He said that Islam gives immense importance to cleanliness as it is part of our half faith. Around 64% of children have access to water and 61% of children have access to sanitation so we need to work on this area. I am very happy to announce that we are working on National Minimum Education Standards, everything which has anything to do with education be it teacher, building, furniture or sanitation facilities at schools will be included in that and would strictly be implemented throughout the country, he said. It is our responsibility to provide these basic facilities to our youth as it has great impact on their performances, he said.
Seminar besides others was also attended by the Joint Education Advisor and official of UNICEF.