LAHORE: The Punjab government is overhauling the school education system and will not teach children in English language.

“There has been a mushroom growth of English medium schools in the province. We are committed to overhauling our education system and shun this tendency and mindset of teaching our kids in an alien language. We will inculcate in our kids the passion and importance of native langue and culture for true communication of our history,” says Punjab School Education Minister Murad Raas.

Addressing the concluding session of the three-day international conference on ‘The Punjab: History and Culture’, here on Wednesday, the minister said the event was a cornerstone in documenting the rich and diverse culture of Punjab beyond boundaries.

He emphasised that such conferences were a valuable source of learning for our generations to absorb the proud legacy and civilisations of this region.

Quaid-i-Azam University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ali said the land of Punjab had produced illuminating figures in all walks of life. He also read the work of great poets Baba Bulleh Shah, Sultan Bahu, Shakir Shujahabadi, Mian Muhmmad Bakhsh and Munnoo Bhai who spread the message of peace, love and harmony in the region.

He stressed upon preserving and promoting Punjabi language at the grassroots level as this would be a great service to literature.

Dr Mujahid Kamran, University of Lahore rector, said the heritage of Punjab united the people of the subcontinent, and had the division of Punjab be based on fair play the future of this region would have been more bright and prosperous.

A resolution was also adopted proposing that the history of Punjab as a course should be introduced at the postgraduate level in all public and private universities and Punjabi language should be taught at all levels of education.GCU: Government College University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asghar Zaidi has said this institution had played a vital role in promotion of culture and literature of Punjab and overall socio-economic development of Pakistan.

He was addressing a ceremony held at the GCU in the honour of delegates of the international conference.

Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences National Coordinator Murtaza Noor emphasised strengthening collaboration across universities in promoting campus-based student activities.

Lahore College for Women University VC Dr Bushra Mirza also spoke.

UVAS: The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) organised an awareness seminar on “Paradoxical Agriculture” here on Wednesday.

The objective of the seminar was to implement the strategy of paradoxical agriculture for high yield fodder/crops production, so that productivity of the dairy animals can be increased with the ultimate goal of food security in Pakistan.

UVAS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani presided over the inaugural session.

Muhammad Asif Sharif, an expert in marketing and project development in agriculture, shared his ideas for new technology of change in the existing production system.PU: Punjab University Dean Faculty of Commerce and Hailey College of Banking and Finance Principal Prof Dr. Mubasher Munawar Khan has been appointed member of the PU Syndicate by Governor/Chancellor Chaudhry Sarwar.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2020