March, 15 2005	Tuesday	04 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, March 14: The ministry of environment will provide Rs15.50 to the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) for integration of environmental themes in the teacher training curricula of the university, Dawn has learnt.

In this regard, the Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) of the ministry has approved a PC-1 submitted jointly by the environmental science department of the AIOU and the National Environmental Action Plan-Support Programme (NEAP-SP) of the ministry.

The project is the brainchild of Dr Mohammad Irfan Khan, Head of the environmental science department at the university, while Dr Murtaza Malik, Programme Manager of the NEAP-SP, represented the ministry in development of the project proposal.

It is envisaged that the outcome of the project will have a snowball effect, as orientation and capacity building of teachers on environmental issues is of prime importance for achievement of the long-term sustainable development objectives and millennium development goals, an official source at the ministry said.

A similar project is already underway at the curriculum wing of the education ministry under the NEAP-SP to integrate environmental themes into the curricula and textbooks of primary to intermediate level classes.

The project is intended to prepare teachers in delivering the new curriculum with integrated environmental themes, the source said.

The AIOU is the only distance and non-formal university in the country which caters to the educational needs of over one million students.

The university provides a flexible system of distance education which can be best suited for vocational and technical education to combat unemployment and develop skilled human resource, the source said.

The Allama Iqbal Open University can serve as the best place for disseminating the knowledge to a huge level and a wider range of recipients, he said.

In reply to a question, the source said with every passing day the country was coming across various environmental issues.

The levels of air and water pollution are on the rise and the Economic Survey of Pakistan has revealed that all major cities of the country are faced with this problem.

With such kind of projects, the next generation could be better prepared to face the environmental challenges.