ABBOTTABAD, April 10: Federal Minister for Education Zobaida Jalal has said that an inquiry has been ordered into the curricula issue.
She said this while addressing as chief guest at the 18th annual prize distribution ceremony of Islamia Modern Public School and College on Saturday.
She said the curricula issue had been taken in the wrong context, and some elements were out to defame the government on this count.
She clarified that the "syllabus" was designed purely within the ambit of "our Constitution". She added that the component of "our ideology" had been kept intact.
"All that has happened has been in the province of Punjab where stern directives have been issued to its textbook board to set things right."
She said: "It had been done without the approval of the federal ministry."
Praising the role of private-sector educational institutions, she said their contribution to the academic effort stood at 40 per cent. On a reciprocal basis, she added, the government had started giving incentives to these institutions in the shape of reduced electricity and gas tariffs.
The education minister said that under the Education Sector Reform Programme, huge funds were being spent on not only improving the infrastructure but also on providing financial support to poor students.
She pointed out that an amount of Rs0.2 million would be given to all students topping the Inter board exams, and Rs0.05 million to those securing top position in the Matric exams.
Under the programme, girls will be given Rs200 plus free meal in some areas to encourage female education.
About financial support to the private schools, Ms Zobaida Jalal said funds will be given for the construction of buildings and purchase of equipment.
Senator Aneesa Zeb Tahirkheli presided over the function. She lauded the government for "increasing the literacy rate" in a practical manner.
She said that in order to get on a par with the rest of the world, "we needed to change our old syllabi" within the parametres set by Islam.
The school's executive director Saeed Swati presented the annual report.
Later, prizes were distributed among the best performing students.
