ISLAMABAD, Dec 23: Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi on Thursday said the salary structure of teachers would soon be revised to improve their living standard.
He was speaking as chief guest at a ceremony organized by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) to distribute awards and trophies among students as well as institutions for showing outstanding performance in the matriculation and intermediate examinations 2004.
The minister said teachers were the linchpin of the entire education system, and the government would make all efforts to accord them their due respectable place in the society.
He said a training plan was also being implemented to improve communication and other skills of teachers. He urged the position holders to equip themselves with latest education so as to meet challenges confronted by the nation.
Mr Qazi asked the students to strive hard and meet international standards in the discipline they were pursuing. He said it was an uphill task, but during the past 50 years, relatively backward nations made swift strides to match the socio-economic development made by more advanced societies.
"We have to motivate our youth to work diligently to take the nation forward," he stressed. The future of a nation depends more on education than any other thing, he said, adding that without mass education, no nation could survive the fierce international competition.
The minister agreed that those responsible for the implementation of education policies and plans lacked enthusiasm and vigour. Special steps have been taken to ensure that the decision made at the policy level is implemented in letter and spirit and on schedule.
For this purpose, the ministry of education has been restructured. The new system has made it possible to monitor the progress of implementation of various plans and schemes, he added.
Earlier, FBISE Chairman Cdre (retired) Mohammad Sharif Shamshad, while welcoming the chief guest, gave a brief account of the board's activities. He said the brilliant performance of the award-winning students deserved accolades. He also acknowledged the role of their teachers and parents in helping them achieve success.
Mr Shamshad said the federal board and the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen, following government's directives, were bringing about harmony and standardization among all boards of education.
He said the board would continue to lead the way in implementing education reforms and ensuring that examinations were held in a fair and transparent manner. As many as 14 students were awarded medals - four gold, five silver and five bronze - in recognition of their outstanding performance in Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination.
At the Higher Secondary School Certificate level, 32 medals - 10 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze - were awarded along with merit certificates. In addition to this, cash prizes of Rs10,000 each were also given to the gold medalists, while those receiving the silver and bronze medals received Rs7,000 and Rs5,000 each, respectively.
Ali Safdar of Army Public School & Inter Science College, Gujranwala Cantonment, obtained 799 marks out of 850 and secured overall 1st position in the SSC examination.
Similarly, Shahid Habib Khan of the F.G Sir Syed College, Mall Road, Rawalpindi Cantonment, secured 981 marks out of 1,100 and obtained overall 1st position in the HSSC examination.
The two top position holders were also give personal computers. Similarly, Islamabad College for Girls, F-6/2, and F.G College for Women, Kashmir Road, Rawalpindi Cantonment, were adjudged best institutions for the 2004, and presented trophies.
