21 April 2005	Thursday	11 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 20: Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Wednesday said the system of school councils was being evolved in all districts of the province in which effective representation would also be given to local people as well as parents of students. He said school councils would ensure attendance of teachers and students and besides monitoring administrative affairs, they would also play their role in maintaining standard of education.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting which reviewed the on-going development projects in education and health sectors.

National Commission for Human Development Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf, Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed, Chief Secretary Kamran Rasool and other senior officers were present.

Mr Elahi said the reform programme of the Punjab government in health and education sectors was consolidating the social development process. He said the government was paying special attention to teachers’ training programme as qualified and competent teachers could play a key role in improving standard of education.

He said a strategy had also been evolved under the Punjab Education Sector Reforms Programme for promotion of education. He said all middle schools in the province would be upgraded to high school level under a phased programme and the government had also made a record increase in the education budget. He said the rate of enrolment as well as literacy had increased in the province owing to the measures taken by the government.

The chief minister said the health sector reforms programme had also been initiated. Under it, upgradation of all district health units, rural health centres and tehsil and district headquarters hospitals, and provision of necessary medical facilities were being ensured.

He said the Punjab government would also benefit from the federal government’s efforts to involve people in the health and education sectors.

The chief minister appreciated the measures taken by the National Commission for Human Development for social development, especially its literacy programme and said it would supplement the efforts for promotion of education.