ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: Religio-political parties are criticizing various initiatives taken by the education ministry just to gain political mileage, Education Minister Lt-Gen (retired) Javed Ashraf Qazi said.

He was talking to media persons after attending the 6th convocation of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) here on Thursday. "I will not allow a bunch of politically-motivated people to play with education policy of the country, and will remain firm on the decisions the government has taken for the improvement of education standards," the minister said.

How can Islami Jamiat Tulaba, student wing of Jamaat-i- Islami, be a representative body of the entire country's student community, the minister said. They are basically hypocrite and just for the sake of popularity, have launched aggressive campaigns against the education ministry, he added.

"They have virtually failed in gathering support on president's uniform issue and are now criticizing the education ministry just to remain in news," Mr Qazi claimed.

Referring to the setting up of Aga Khan Examination Board (AKEB) in the private sector, the minister said: "Both inside and outside the parliament, I have clarified that the board has nothing to do with curriculum and will only act as an exam-taking body. But without any rational, they are bashing this initiative."

When his attention was drawn towards the statement of Punjab education minister that he would not allow the AKEB in the province, Mr Qazi said the board had been set up through an ordinance, and no government could oppose its establishment.

He said the board was only meant for interested private schools, whereas government schools and colleges would remain under government boards. So far, about 200 private schools and colleges have got registered with the AKEB, the minister responded to another question.