Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. — Photo by AFP

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday announced all educational institutions in the capital to be upgraded to model schools and colleges.

The Prime Minister in a bid to ensure improvement in the quality and standard of education in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), also approved upgrading of posts of teachers working under the Federal Directorate of Education.

Addressing educationists and teachers at a function on the 'Uniformity of education systems and upgradation of teachers in ICT', the Prime Minister agreed in principle with the demand for enhancing the charge allowance to the Heads and Principals of institutions.

He stressed that the Ministry of Education in collaboration with CDA and ICT arrange transport facilities for students and teachers especially in the rural areas.

He asked the ministry to consider establishment of Federation Public School in Islamabad as well as a Model University to cater for the affiliation needs of ICT graduate and postgraduate colleges, presently affiliated with University of Punjab, Lahore.

Gilani said dignified social status for the teachers would earn due respect from other fields of life reducing frustration and attracting best of the best for the teachers' job.

Prime Minister Gilani urged teachers to assume full responsibility of the future of students and turn them into productive and responsible citizens of the country.

Teachers have to dedicate all the efforts towards students' physical, emotional, moral and intellectual grooming, he added.

The Prime Minister said no efforts will prove productive unless the teacher who is the main contributor is adequately honoured and looked after.

“My devotion towards promotion of education is in fact a reflection of the policies of my government and my party,” he added.

Gilani said the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) after assuming the responsibilities of the country has been endeavouring to reduce differences between the rich and the poor especially in the field of education.

“We claim that the roots of the party are among the people of Pakistan and this is how we represent them on every forum nationally and internationally,” he remarked.

As a part of policy, he said, the privileges for the common man need to be raised to the level of the rich to eliminate discrimination in opportunities.

Every child is possessed with a spark of talent and it is for the teachers to discover and polish it, he said adding, “my vision of quality education rests on the shoulders of teachers.”

He expressed the hope that the Ministry of Education and Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) will ensure that the benefits reach the grassroots level at the earliest so that the results can be seen and shown to others in the country.

The Prime Minister said after the passage of the 18th Amendment, the issue of national curriculum in future could be taken up at the forum of Council of Common Interest (CCI) and in line with the constitution.

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