ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: The Senate Standing Committee on Education, Scientific and Technological Research has observed that effective monitoring system is the key to evaluate the success or failure of a project.
A committee meeting, presided over by Senator Razina Alam Khan, was held at the Parliament House here on Thursday. The meeting called upon the education ministry to lay focus on evaluating its various programmes initiated under primary education, literacy and non-formal education and education for all sectors.
This observation was made by the committee while having a briefing from Science and Technology Wing and Education for All Wing on their working and performance. The committee was informed that 78 polytechnic institutes had been established in the country and that the government planed to establish two institutes, one for boys and the other for girl students, in each district.
It was also told that three polytechnic institutes in Balochistan would be set up this year - one each at Turbat, Khuzdar and Gwadar. The standing committee was informed that a polytechnic institute for boys at Islamabad was under construction and would be ready by the end of this year. The members of the committee were of the view that more technical institutes should be set up.
The members strongly advocated the need to exploit new technologies for the benefit of un-employed or semi-literate youth. The committee was informed that the government had set up a 26-member National Scientific Advisory Committee to provide policy guidelines for the promotion of science education in the country.
Moreover, a 22-member National Council of Technical and Vocational Education and Training has been constituted to devise ways for enhanced coordination between Technical Vocational Education Training Institutions and industry to minimize gap between training and employment.
The members of the committee, while having a briefing on "Education for All" programme, pointed out that the federal government, under the Constitution, was responsible for eradication of illiteracy and provision of free and compulsory education up to secondary level, within minimum possible time.
The members of the committee were of the view that education in general and education for all plan in particular must be given top priority by the government and that the objectives of the plan could be achieved for the development of education sector.
There was a general consensus that the literacy rate in the country was very low and that a coordinated motivational and awareness campaign should be launched through the print and electronic media to get the desired results.
