ISLAMABAD, Oct 30: The Senate standing committee on education, science and technology has underlined the need for reviewing and updating the curriculum according to the changing needs of the time.

The committee which met with Razina Alam Khan in the chair on Saturday was given a briefing on the formulation of curriculum council and the ongoing curriculum review.

The committee was informed that the curriculum development was an ongoing process and new concepts would be presented in a more appropriate manner.

It was stated that experts had been appointed who would work in collaboration with provincial textbook boards, curriculum research development centres, teachers and other stakeholders to update the curriculum.

Federal Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi admitted that the literacy rate in the country was not satisfactory and that an education census was being carried out in all the four provinces to know the ground realities.

In this regard, he said funds had already been made available and evaluators had been trained to carry out the survey.

He said vocational training centres at district level and technical colleges at provincial level would be set up to provide professional training to those who failed to attend schools and colleges.

Regarding missing facilities at various schools, the minister said the army would be involved to provide infrastructure facilities at provincial and district level as per requirements of the local governments.

The meeting was also attended by senators Tahira Latif, Prof Mohammad Saeed Siddiqui, Roshan Khursheed Bharucha, Dr Mohammad Said, Maulvi Agha Mohammad and Prof Mohammad Ibrahim Khan.