US earmarks $75m for Pakistani students: Fulbright scholarship
By Khawar Ghumman
ISLAMABAD, Jan 4: The US government has earmarked $75 million under the Fulbright Scholarship Scheme for Pakistani students to study at the best universities of America in the field of science and technical education.
This was stated by US Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker during his meeting with Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi at the latter's office here on Tuesday. "Besides this ($75 million) amount, the US would also provide financial assistance worth $66 million to Pakistan for the development of early and adult education, school administration, and teachers training", Mr Crocker said.
The envoy maintained that the Bush administration and USAID were seriously endeavouring to assist Pakistan in many sectors, as the socially and militarily strong Pakistan would bring peace and stability to the region and would further strengthen the Pakistan-US relations.
He appreciated the efforts of the government and ministry of education for delivering educational services to all, particularly in the far-flung areas. The ambassador hoped that Pakistan would soon achieve the Education for All targets.
He admitted that Pakistan had the vast potential of intelligent human resource, adding, visa facilitations for the students intending to go to the US for higher studies would soon be initiated.
Talking to the ambassador, the education minister said his emphasis would be to introduce technical and vocational training schools at each major town of the country, which would further help in poverty alleviation and job creation in the country.
The minister said he had already secured the political will at the highest level to make Pakistan a technological based country which had the potential to produce skilled manpower instead of jobless degree holders.
He said only the technical and vocational education could change the country's destiny and would put it on the road to progress and prosperity. He also told the ambassador that after 9/11, Pakistani students were preferring the UK for higher studies and asked him to facilitate students intending to go to the US universities.
He further told the envoy that the ministry would start a survey this year to collect the data about the actual progress made in the education sector. For better and effective coordination between the ministry of education, USAID, ESRA and other international donors, a facilitation cell has been established in the ministry with the core task to immediately respond to the donors queries, the minister said.
He also told the ambassador that he has asked for the list of NGOs which were funded by the USAID and ESRA in the education sector to ensure the judicious use of the assistance.
During the meeting, he reiterated that he would not move even an inch from his stand on the Aga Khan Examination Board and would give a deaf ear to the demands of those, who wanted a backward and slow moving Pakistan.
He maintained that Aga Khan Board would work under certain regulations drafted by the government to keep the country's ideology and sovereignty intact and there would be no pressure on the public sector schools for affiliation with the said board.
