ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Wednesday said that the government was working on establishment of new schools and improving infrastructure of existing ones to make educational institutions in Islamabad a model for rest of the country during the next fiscal year.

The minister was laying the foundation stone for construction of Islamabad Model College G-15 on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that two more educational institutions in sector G-13 and Pakistan Town will be inaugurated soon.

Pakistan’s literacy rate could not move beyond 60pc since its independence, he said, adding that improvement in the country’s literacy rate requires effort.

Besides improving the standard of existing educational institutions, the government is also focusing on setting up new ones, he added.

Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) Director General and Joint Secretary (education) Syed Umair Javed also attended the ceremony along with other officials concerned.

Speaking to , Mr Javaid said that construction work of two other institutions in G-15 and Pakistan Town has been started while three more projects in G-13, G-14 and Margalla Town are in tendering process.

A proposed project worth Rs800 million for missing facilities in 175 schools is also being finalised, he added.

Construction work for new institutions is being carried out after a break of nine years, he said, adding that the last educational institution was set up in Bhara Kahu.

Meanwhile, Mr Mahmood launched the first ever training programme for staff of private schools that are affiliated with Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira). He also inaugurated the resource centre for Peira.

The event was attended by selected staff members from some of the leading private educational institutions of the city.

It is Piera’s responsibility to ensure implementation of Supreme Court’s decision to regulate fees in private schools, he said. Peira Chairperson Zia Batool also spoke on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2020