ISLAMABAD, July 27: Education minister Zobaida Jalal on Saturday said a regulatory framework was being devised, similar to that of the provincial governments, to regulate the fee structure of private educational institutions.

Through the regulatory framework, efforts will be made to keep the fees of these institutions at affordable level, she said, adding that the government was aware that many of these institutions were very expensive.

She was speaking at the presidential award giving ceremony on behalf of the president. Awards were also distributed among outstanding teachers and students for the year 2000-01.

Prof Nadir Qambrani of Balochistan University was given Izaz-i-Kamal 2000, while seven awards of Izaz-i-Fazeelat 2000 were conferred on Dr Tanveer Anjum of St. Joseph’s Government College for Women, Karachi; Prof (Dr) Sultan Altaf Ali, Government Degree College, Quetta; Dr Abdul Qadir Mughal, University Grants Commission; Dr Bashir Ahmad, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; Dr Mansoor Ahmad, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi; Dr Mustafa Shameel and Irfan Ullah Khan of Literacy and Non-Formal Education, Quetta. Similarly, 31 people received Izaz-i-Sabqat-2000.

“Today is a day to publicly recognize those who are Pakistan’s most precious asset both in quantitative and qualitative terms,” Ms Jalal said.

Talking to the award winners, she said: The stage has been set for you to share in our efforts for achieving excellence in education and becoming equal partners in our national reforms efforts. I want you to continue to remain role models for your generation.”

She dispelled the impression that the government was pursuing a policy to denationalize public educational institutions, adding that 40,000 teachers in different educational institutions would be recruited.

About the awards, she said, these were being given to boost excellence in all branches of social and basic sciences. The government has instituted a system of scholarship and awards to encourage teachers, students and scholars in different fields of education. “The purpose of this award is not only to recognize the merits of individuals in their respective fields, but to create a congenial academic environment through which the students and teachers become the role model for others,” she observed.

The minister said the government was committed to the enhancement of qualitative education and research on lines announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The trend of honouring persons, she observed, would help highlight the merit in education so that the society could benefit from the excellence of these academic persons.

“By these steps, we are working not only as per the teachings of the Holy Quran that education should be made compulsory for all men and women, but as guided by our father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, that the government of Pakistan should take special care for educating the youth of our country,” she observed.