February 29, 2008	Friday	Safar 21, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Feb 28: The government has decided to upgrade all federal educational institutions to the level of model colleges.

Caretaker Minister for Education Dr Shamsh Kassim Lakha informed Senate during a question hour on Thursday that initially 34 junior model schools had been redesigned as Islamabad model colleges (IMCs).

Giving details of the steps taken by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) for the improvement of education, he said the FDE was providing free textbooks to all the students from prep. to matric classes. In addition free English dictionaries were being provided to all the students of class VI to enhance their English language skills.

He said training workshops on new system of composite examination and changed pattern of question papers at matric level were organised for teachers recently.

Dr Lakha said the FDE had introduced centralised examination for classes V and VIII, provided centralised question papers for classes III, VI, VI and VII to bring uniformity in examination system.

He said 500 scholarships had been awarded to students on the basis of results of classes V and VIII exam last year. The caretaker minister said 690 qualified English teachers have been appointed in all the primary level schools of Islamabad. Most of the schools have been upgraded to English medium schools to meet the modern day requirement.

Volunteer Talent Poll (VTP) programme has been introduced in schools for the last few years. In VTP programme, students

of BA/BSc level run special coaching classes in the schools under supervision of associate/ assistant professors.

Mathematics Olympiad is conducted in the 100 per cent schools to emphasise and promote the skills in mathematics. Toppers are awarded computers. This year over 1,60,000 student participated in the Olympiad.

“Let’s transform our classrooms to facilitate a great future for our beloved students” was the theme of the year 2006-07 which was launched on World Teacher’s Day.

All the secondary, higher secondary schools and colleges have latest computer labs, teaching and lab staff. FDE in collaboration with international agencies is running various projects for the improvement of educational standards. At present four such projects are activated. In order to have coordination with the civil society and parents regarding performance of the students, Parent-Teachers Associations (PTA) are working actively in the educational institutions.

NHA: Caretaker Minister for Communications Barrister Habibur Rehman told the Senate that National Highway Authority (NHA) completed construction of 745 kilometres roads at a cost of Rs20 billion during 2006-07.

In a written reply to a question from Prof Muhammad Ibrahim, the minister said NHA had also undertaken rehabilitation of 550km and resurfacing and strengthening of 306km of G.T. Road (N-5) partly funded through World Bank loan.

Answering a question from Dr Kausar Firdaus, the minister informed the house that NHA constructed highways and motorways in the country and its present network is 11,485km which accounts only 4 per cent of Pakistan’s total road network.