ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Monday urged provincial governments and federal institutions to take measures to improve educational standards.

Speaking at the launch of the Curriculum and Textbooks (Class Pre-I to V) for Islamabad-based schools, the prime minister said the country’s prosperity is linked to the quality of education.

He lauded the Ministry of Federal Education and Profession Training, particularly Minister Balighur Rehman, for introducing a new curriculum in Islamabad’s schools. He said that in the next phase, the curriculum for grades five to eight, and then matric and intermediate, would be upgraded.

Mr Abbasi also launched the Prime Minister’s 100/100/100 Education Programme, which aims for 100pc enrolment, 100pc retention and 100pc graduation at Islamabad-based educational institutions.

This programme will also extend help to provinces. “This awareness programme will be a role model for the entire country,” he said, and directed the concerned Islamabad Capital Territory departments to play their role in making the programme a success.

Mr Abbasi said the provinces have been taking measures to improve education standards and the literature rate, but there is a lot to be desired. The education sector is a provincial subject following the 18th Amendment, but the federal government will have to play a leading role, he said.

“The provinces are facing capacity issues, so there is a need to help the provinces,” he said.

The prime minister also called for a national testing service that could hold secondary and higher secondary examinations simultaneously across the country, something he also expressed the need for at a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI), where the chief ministers of four provinces were also present.

The prime minister said there are a dozen boards, in the country and could not maintain a uniform standard of education.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2018