ISLAMABAD: To dispel criticism of public schools by private school owners, the government on Sunday announced that state-run schools would be uplifted.

When the prime minister banned schools from charging increased fee, private school owners criticised the decision and had pointed out the low standard of education in state-run schools.

Therefore, on Sunday, the government announced its intent to uplift public schools. A press release says the initiative will include a comprehensive plan for the upgradation of school infrastructure, the addition of more IT and science laboratories and improving the management of human resources.

Teacher training and evaluation, improvements in curriculum, introduction of a bio-metric attendance system, mapping out better school transport, health and safety programmes and student volunteering programmes are also part of the initiative.

The prime minister will inaugurate the first transformed school in a rural area in Islamabad when he returns from the US. The model will be replicated in all public sectors schools in Islamabad.

The press release reads, “The prime minister has expressed his displeasure over the non-implementation of the Free and Compulsory Education Act 2012 and has assigned the task of ensuring its implementation to Maryam Nawaz.”

Sources in the Federal Directorate of Education said only 21 schools will be upgraded in the first phase of the programme.

Other issues like grievance addressing systems, the development of a monitoring and evaluation system and the establishment of an education authority and education advisory council will also be addressed.

The authority and the council will have experts providing them with a framework to implement the Education Act 2012.— A Reporter

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2015

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