TAXILA: Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Development Malik Taimoor Masood Akbar on Sunday inaugurated the newly-established basketball court at Danish School Jand near Attock.

The court was donated to the school by Founders Education Society Chief Executive Prof Attaur Rehman Chaudhry.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Mr Akbar said the Punjab government had planned to set up six general and four technical universities in the province in a span of one year.

He further disclosed that the government had launched a new initiative titled ‘The New Deal 2018-23’ to transform school education with a focus on improving, learning, access, retention, equity and governance.

He also said that under this initiative, efforts were being made for enrolment of around 4.8 million out-of-school children, construction of 5,000 classrooms against a target of 20,000 and enrolment of 50pc of three to four-year-old children in any form of early education.

Mr Akbar said the government aimed to provide education in Urdu at primary level from the next academic year.

Prof Attaur Rehman termed the government’s decision a step in the right direction, adding that this will dramatically cut down dropout rates.

Speaking on the occasion, the school’s principal, Prof Raffiuddin, said young students will develop an interest in sports activities now that they have a basketball court, adding that according to research people who actively take part in sports organise recreational activities are more resilient against stress.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2019