LAHORE: Red-tapism within the Punjab School Education Department may have an effect on the speech and essay writing competitions 2015, launched by the chief minister with the aim to empower both male and female students to combat the menace of terrorism in the country.

The competitions at the tehsil level are due to start from Wednesday (tomorrow) and the Directorate of Public Instructions of the Punjab School Education Department has expressed dismay over the non-observance of its directives by executive district officers concerned to make the competitions a success.

“It has come to the notice of the competent authority that the instructions regarding speech and essay writing competitions are not being conveyed to lower formation… which is a very alarming situation,” said a letter dispatched to all executive district officers (education) in the province.

“It is further pointed out that the media campaign pertaining to speech and essay writing competitions is very slow. Banners are not being displayed in the government as well as privately managed schools and centres established for competitions. This may be assigned top priority,” said the letter signed by the additional director public instruction (school education).

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had launched Speech and Essay Writing Competitions 2015 for both male and female students of government and private schools.

The topics for essay writing in English language are ‘Together we defeat terrorism’ and for Urdu language ‘Riyasat ka Azam: Dehshet Gardi, Firqa Wariat aur Mutshadid Rawayun ka Khatma.’

For speech competitions, the topics in English language are ‘Silence against violence is a sin’ and in Urdu language ‘Un ko khabar nahi keh lahu bolta bhi hai.’

All the topers of each level would be given awards -- on tehsil level 17,812 awards amounting to Rs3.5 million, on district level 4,392 awards amounting to Rs1 million, on division level 1,098 awards amounting to Rs5 million and on provincial level 122 awards amounting to Rs6.6 million.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2015

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