April 29, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 22, 1429

LAHORE, April 28: Federal Education Minister Ahsan Iqbal has expressed the resolve to ensure a uniform educational system at all levels in the country.

Addressing a reception on his visit to Punjab University New Campus here on Monday evening, the minister said that whole value chain would be integrated through synergizing the entire education system with industry and global needs.

During last eight years, he said, the focus was on higher education with its annual budget increased from Rs 3 billion to Rs 33 billion, while primary and secondary levels of education were totally neglected..

The minister said that in the first phase, the public education system would be reformed and integrated, for which a National Curriculum Council was being formulated, while an education city would also be established in Islamabad.

He said a summit of all stakeholders would be arranged to debate the new national education policy which would be tabled in the National Assembly. “We will get the new education policy signed by the leaders of all political parties so that no one can change it for at least next 10 years,” he added.

Ahsan said today four million children were out of schools for which the government would launch a national campaign to enrol them (into schools) to increase the literacy rate.

The minister said that a bilingual education system with equal space to Urdu and English should be put in order to make our students compatible with the world.

Ahsan Iqbal said Federal Education Ministry was formulating the service structure for the teachers so as to ensure their promotion after a certain period of service but on performance basis.

On this occasion PU faculty deans, institutes' directors, heads of departments and other faculty members gave their suggestions to improve the country's education system.-— APP