Schools to be established for transgender persons, working children

LAHORE:Punjab School Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said that new schools were being established at the divisional level for transgender individuals and working children. The Student Health and Meal Programme, set to benefit more than 700,000 students, will be launched immediately after the summer vacations.

The provincial education minister shared this information while presiding over a meeting of the Chief Minister's Advisory Committee for Education here on Thursday. The meeting saw the participation of senior officers, including the Secretaries of School Education, Higher Education, Special Education, and Non-Formal Education.

During the session, the minister received a comprehensive briefing on the 100-day performance of the four educational departments. Various recommendations were given for advancing educational projects and initiatives in the 3-hour-long meeting.

The meeting included a briefing on the progress of handing over schools to the private sector. Consideration was given to developing an inclusive education policy, and a detailed discussion was held regarding the 5-year education plan.

Expressing his satisfaction, Rana Sikandar commended the officers, stating that their performance aligns with the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He noted that the departments have accomplished more work in less time, placing them in a better position compared to three months ago.

He said that over the past three months, significant steps have been taken towards educational reforms. For the first time, student council elections were held to foster leadership skills among students, and a network of cheating mafias was dismantled. The province recorded a historic enrolment of over 1.1 million students, a first in its 20-year history. Rana Sikandar also mentioned that school management has been empowered for the development of schools. Additionally, technical courses are being introduced in more than 100 schools to teach technology, benefiting 10,000 students over the next four years. He further announced the introduction of an e-transfer policy for the first time in history.

Regarding the School Meal Programme, the minister directed that a pilot project be launched in Rajanpur in collaboration with the World Food Programme, to be expanded across the province in phases.