KARACHI, Feb 5: The Federal Education Minister, Lt-Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi, has denied allegations that the government was bringing changes in the educational curricula on directives from the USA
, while he also expressed unhappiness over the start of academic session from August.
"I have no knowledge about the US President, George W. Bush's, statement terming changes made in Pakistan's educational curricula as those made on his directives."
He also denied any US envoy or delegation asking the Pakistani government to make changes in the education curricula, saying these changes were being made in the "larger national interest".
"I assure you that this move is in the national interest, and no dictation has ever been followed in this regard," he said, while talking to journalists after the graduation ceremony of the Shaheed Z.A. Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST) held at the DHA Creek Club on Friday.
"It is our own requirement that the curricula be changed after every three to four years, as new inventions and discoveries in the field of sciences and technology are made everyday, compelling us to provide up-to-date knowledge to our students," he added.
To a query about the start of education session from August in Sindh, he disclosed that the Sindh province had taken the said decision without approval from the provincial coordination committee (PCC) of the provincial education ministers, supposed to decide the matter.
"The federal education ministry will look into the matter soon in the coming PCC meeting," he maintained.
He added that the said decision of the Sindh education department had created problems in transfers of government employees.
About the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKUEB), he reiterated that it would follow the national curricula and only private schools would be allowed to get affiliated with it.
He claimed that the AKUEB's establishment was aimed at providing quality education to those unable to afford the exorbitant fees of O and A level system, adding that permission for setting up the Askari Board was also for the same purpose.
The federal minister criticized some religious elements for exploiting the said issue just for the sake of "their political interest", saying though their children get education from O and A level schools affiliated with the British Council, they do not denounce this system, which he said, was being run through foreign funding and had an alien curricula.
About the low literacy rate in the country, he outlined the need for a "massive move" for dealing with the issue, adding that it was obligatory on the provincial governments to make efforts in increasing the literacy rate.
He said that the federal government would assist the provinces if a plan was proposed on their behalf in this regard.
Earlier, the Federal Education Minister, Lt-Gen (Retd) Javed Ashraf Qazi conferred degrees on as many as 405 graduates of the institute.
Speaking to the graduates, the minister exhorted them to follow Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah's message of unity, faith and discipline, and consider national interest while serving the country.
"You must remember that we are Pakistanis first. Our national interest is supreme and must come first as well. We all owe a lot to Pakistan and to the struggle of millions of Muslims of the subcontinent, led by Quaid-i-Azam, who sacrificed their lives to achieve this country so that we may live in peace and harmony," he said.
Mr Ashraf asked students to helping the deprived and unprivileged after embarking on profession careers.
Dr Javed Leghari, project director of the SZABIST shed light on the achievements of the institution.
A total of 405 graduates pertaining to the batches of 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2003 were conferred BBA, BCS, MBA, MCS and MS degrees. About 13 graduates were given gold medals while three graduates were granted sponsored gold medals. - PPI
