Islamabad
The National Commission for Human Development has launched a new project to offer formal primary education to seminary students in FATA, GB, AJK and ICT.
According to NCHD chairperson Senator Razina Alam Khan, the project was designed in line with the instructions of the federal education ministry to bring about quantitative and qualitative improvement in the education of the seminary students.
"This will enable the madaris students to achieve the standards of national education system in formal and modern educational subjects. Through this project, the madrasas will introduce Science, Mathematics, Social Studies and English in their curriculum so that the students’ academic proficiency from class 1 to class 5 is attainable in these educational institutions," she told 'The News' on Wednesday.
The NCHD chairperson said the project of the commission would enhance the prospects of the students of madaris to pursue further studies in the regular educational institutions and would ensure competitive edge in the job market.
She regretted 57 million people of the country's total population were illiterate.
Senator Razina also felt sorry about the 24 million out of school children and expressed concern that of the total 26.8 million enrolled children, only 31 per cent reached the matriculation level.
She said the net primary school enrolment was 72 per cent and of it, 33 per cent dropped out before reaching the primary level.
The NCHD chairperson said the Nawaz Sharif government wanted to achieve 90 per cent literacy rate and 100 per cent enrolment rate under the Vision 2025.
“The NCHD will establish 12,000 new literacy centres in the less-developed and remote areas of the country as approved by the federal government under the PSDP. The biggest challenge before the nation is to educate 57 million adult illiterates and to stop the trend as soon as possible rather than let the numbers increase,” she said.
Senator Razina Alam Khan said the development process of the country had been badly affected by lower literacy and enrolment rates and higher dropouts in schools.
She said the NCHD along with other stakeholders with the Vision 2025 under the leadership of Federal Education Minister Baligh ur Rehman would derive plans to increase primary school enrolment and completion rate to 100 per cent along with 90 per cent achievement of literacy rate.
The NCHD chairperson said the objective of the government was not only to make 40 per cent population literate but also to empower them through skill development programs in coordination with the NAVTEC.