Islamabad: A high-powered delegation led by former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik called on Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui here on Monday.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani and former Member of the Oslo Parliament Norway Aamir Javed Sheikh. Dr Khalid called Kjell Magne Bondevik a ‘friend of Pakistan, who has always worked towards helping Pakistan in fighting its challenges.’
He said that the presence of His Excellency internationalised the agenda of the International Conference on Girl’s Education. The minister said that Pakistan was taking the lead for the Islamic countries to tackle the issue of girl’s education and out of school children in general.
"Pakistan faces a myriad of challenges in the field of education in the wake of climate change but we're taken up this issue of girl’s education and out of school children with utmost emergency. We have mobilised all of our resources to address this issue," he said.
The minister said that the government had declared an educational emergency. He said that currently, the Ministry of Education was addressing the issues of access to schools, limited infrastructure, quality of teachers training and nutritional problems of children in collaboration with other ministries.
"Due to our efforts, the percentage of out-of-school children with respect to population is decreasing. However, the overall number is increasing." The minister said that to develop and implement targeted interventions a special department called Pakistan Institute of Education had been developed to gather accurate data about challenges being faced by the education sector in the country.
He said that to address the cultural impediments of access to education for girls, the International Conference on Girl’s Education would be a historic achievement. The minister said that religious scholars from all over the world supported the cause of girl’s education.
He said that Pakistan has taken the lead to eradicate the misconception surrounding girl’s education in the Islamic countries. Mr Kjell said he had always worked towards helping Pakistan in resolving its numerous strategic and internal challenges.
He said that Pakistan has made history by conducting the International Conference on Girl’s Education. "Pakistan has huge potential and through proper management of resources all of the issues can be addressed.
He praised the efforts of the Ministry for Education and the Federal Minister of Education in championing the cause of promoting girl’s education. Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said that Pakistan has adopted latest techniques and approached to tackle all of the challenges of the education sector.
He said that Pakistan is focusing on effective disaster management to protect the educational infrastructure of the country. The secretary said that climate change has presented unique challenges but the Ministry of Education has started targeted interventions to ensure positive outcomes.
He said that a special pink bus program was launched in GB and Islamabad to ensure that female students do not have to face logistical issues of access to schools. He also said that a Schools Meals Program has also been launched which will ensure that the stunting issue of children is also addressed. Secretary Education said that Ministry of Education has adopted a 360 degree approach to address the woes of education sector of Pakistan.
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