20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The government has allocated Rs85 million to improve the infrastructure of federal government (FG) schools. This was stated by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) director-general Maqsudul Hassan , while speaking at the inter-zonal prize distribution ceremony held at FG Girls Model School, F-7/2, on Monday.

The FDE director-general said at present, the FG schools were facing a shortage of teachers. However, the FDE is in the process of appointing about 500 teachers, who will join their services by the end of March, he added.

Mr Hassan said teachers currently working on contract basis would get an extension to their contracts till November, after which they could apply for jobs on permanent basis.

The FDE director-general advised the students to read books other than their textbooks, which would help them in their practical life. Mr Hassan also presented awards to students who bagged top three positions in various events including Qirat, Naat, Urdu speech, English speech, Quiz, Mili Naghma, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and race competitions.

The schools which showed excellent performance in six different zones were nominated for best awards. These schools were FG Girls Model School, G-6/2, (Zone A); FG Secondary School No. 10 (Zone B), FG Girls Model School, F-7/2, (Zone C); FG Girls Secondary School, Nilore, (Zone D); FG Girls Model School, Humak, (Zone E), and FG Girls Secondary School No. 12, Chak Shehzad, (Zone F).

The FDE director-general also presented awards to the members of the organizing committee. Those who got awards were Nighat Firdus (President), Rehana Faris (General Secretary), Sadia Naseem (Finance Secretary), Naushaba Shafi (Publicity Secretary) and members Shehnaz Parveen, Rashida Begum and Hameeda Nazir.

On the occasion, the school principal, Nighat Firdus, said education would lose its importance without training. Extra curricular activities play an important role in the life of students by building their confidence and developing decision- making capabilities.-APP