ISLAMABAD, Nov 25: The Senate Standing Committee on Education, Scientific and Technological Research has emphasized printing and supply of error-free textbooks to students.

This observation was made in a meeting which was presided over by Senator Razina Alam Khan.

According to a press release issued here on Thursday, the committee was given a detailed briefing about the curriculum development process. It was informed that the process was participatory and had been carried out at the national level in consultation with all provinces/stakeholders such as curriculum bureaus, textbook boards, provincial educational departments, educationists and experts in the relevant fields.

The committee members stressed that the ministry should review books being taught in private schools. They were happy to learn that geography and history were being restored as independent disciplines from class VI to VIII.

Minister for Education Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi informed the committee that the government was preparing a plan to open polytechnic institutions throughout the country with a view to ensuring that skill of educated youth was fully utilized.

The minister told the committee that reorganization of three federal institutions, which were providing training in technical and scientific education, was underway.

In reply to a question, the minister dispelled the impression created by a section of press that Agha Khan Board was being authorized to conduct examination at secondary and higher secondary level.

He said a three-member committee had been constituted by the education ministry to examine the multiple choice and analytical- base examination system developed by Agha Khan Board with a view to ensuring credibility of "our boards at the international level".

He assured the committee that there would be no change in the curricula. The committee was also apprised of the admission policy framed by the Federal Directorate of Education and the registration of private schools in the federal area.

Regarding training of teaching staff, the committee was informed that NISTE was engaged in conducting "long-term training for qualification courses" in a number of emerging technologies, besides conducting skill upgradation courses for polytechnic instructors and science teachers.

It was further informed that the institute conducted a number of skill development training programmes for unemployed educated youth as well as customized training programmes for national and international organizations.

The committee members appreciated the performance of NISTE, and suggested that efforts should be made to make this apex institute more useful.