Approves inclusion of Smart Schools Programme in Khadim-e-Punjab plan
LAHORE
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting, here Monday to review “Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme” for construction of additional classrooms in schools. He also gave approval to include Smart Schools Programme in “Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme”.
Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said that in the first phase, 10,227 additional classrooms would be constructed at a cost of Rs16 billion during current fiscal year under “Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme”. These classrooms will be constructed in a total of 5,834 schools. He said that in the first phase additional classrooms would be constructed in the schools of Southern Punjab; 1,401 additional classrooms would be constructed in Dera Ghazi Khan at a cost of more than Rs2 billion. Shahbaz Sharif said that male and female students would get more facilities with the construction of additional classrooms which will leave a positive impact on education sector. Giving approval to include Smart Schools Programme in “Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme”, the chief minister said students would be taught with the help of modern technology through smart schools and LED screens would be installed in classrooms while tablets would also be given to the teachers under this programme. He said that teachers training centres would also be digitised gradually. Shahbaz Sharif said that “Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme” was a big project of public welfare and no compromise would be made on its standard.
He said that standard and speed should be ensured in the programme of construction of additional classrooms. He said the Punjab government had made promotion of education its foremost priority and revolutionary programmes had been started for promotion of quality education. Communication & Works Secretary gave a briefing on “Khadim-e-Punjab Schools Programme”. Provincial Ministers Tanvir Aslam Malik, Rana Mashhood Ahmad, Chief Secretary, Secretary Communication & Works, MD NESPAK and the authorities concerned attended the meeting.
higher education: Shahbaz Sharif presided over a meeting which reviewed measures for promotion of higher education in universities of the province.
Secretary Higher Education gave a detailed briefing on the occasion. Addressing the meeting, the chief minister said education is the key to success and a bright future for the country and all-out measures have been taken for the promotion of education in the province.
He said research and development was of vital importance in education sector; therefore, due attention to this sector in universities was the need of the hour. He said it was time to work actively for developing universities as centres of knowledge in the real sense.
Shahbaz Sharif said the Punjab government was attaching top priority to development of education sector and promotion of latest knowledge and all-out resources were being utilised for this purpose. He said record funds had been allocated for education sector. He said there was a need to work with commitment for promoting research and development in universities so that students after completing their studies could prove their talent in the country as well as abroad. He said that research and development could be promoted through coordination between agriculture, industries and livestock sectors.
Provincial Minister for Higher Education Begam Zakia Shahnawaz, additional chief secretary, secretary higher education, Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.
