ABBOTTABAD: Students exchange programmes with developed countries should be encouraged to hone the talents of students so that they could play their role in sustainable development in various fields in the country.

Speakers said this during two-day 10th National Convention of Students Quality Circles that concluded here at Modern Age College with a pledge to promote quality education across the globe through empowering students.

EQUIP-Pakistan director Wahid Mir said that countries like Pakistan needed changes in their curriculum according to the present day requirements, as the old education system could not compete with the world and this was the reason that the country lagged behind in many sectors.

Arshad Ali, quality consultant from Karachi, said that the planners here could learn from the education system of Japan and other countries where primary students were not burdened with the heavy load of books and bags and they only focused on character building of the students at that stage.

Researchers in different fields presented their papers at the event attended by over 1,000 students from different parts of the country. The convention was organised by EQUIP-Pakistan; a nonprofit organisation striving for uplift of quality education in the country. It witnessed participation of foreign delegates from Germany, China, UK, Norway, Thailand, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Jordan and Albania.

In his keynote address, Roland K. Jahnke, president Global Sustainable Excellence Concepts, Germany, discussed the Unesco goals in terms of ‘quality’.

He stressed the need to promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, saying that universal access to primary education was the key challenge the world was facing these days. “If we want sustainable development, we’ll definitely have to give first priority to quality management,” he said.

A number of educationists, doctors, engineers and scholars also attended the event.

The convention featured case studies on various key issues faced by the youth.

In his address, Mr Mir said that students at the convention strengthened Pakistan’s image through proving their capabilities in different competitions. He thanked the international participants for attending the event.

Published in Dawn, November 5th, 2018