ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said on Monday Pakistan is taking the lead in Islamic countries to tackle the issues of girls’ education and out-of -school children.

The federal minister met a high-powered delegation led by former Prime Minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik here. The meeting was also attended by Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani and former Member of the Oslo Parliament, Norway, Aamir Javed Sheikh.

Dr Siddiqui said Mr Bondevik is a friend of Pakistan who has always worked towards helping Pakistan in fighting its challenges.

The minister said the presence of former Norway prime minster internationalised the agenda of the international conference on girls’ education which concluded in Islamabad on Sunday. The minister said Pakistan faced a myriad of challenges but his ministry had taken up the issue with utmost emergency. He said that we have mobilised all our resources to address this issue, adding that the government had also declared an educational emergency.

Education minister terms international conference historic achievement to address cultural impediments to access to education for girls

Dr Siddiqui said that currently the Ministry of Education was addressing issues of access to schools, limited infrastructure, teachers’ training and nutritional problems of children in collaboration with other ministries.

He said that to address cultural impediments of access to education for girls, the international conference was a historic achievement. He said that Pakistan had taken the lead to eradicate the misconception surrounding girls’ education in the Islamic countries.

The former prime minister of Norway Kjell Magne Bondevik said that he always worked towards helping Pakistan in resolving its numerous strategic and internal challenges. He said Pakistan had made history by conducting the international conference on girls’ education. He said that Pakistan had huge potential and through proper management of resources all the issues can be addressed. The secretary education said Pakistan had adopted latest techniques and approaches to tackle all challenges of the education sector.

Separately, the education minister met another delegation led by Minister of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva. During the meeting, he said the international conference on girls’ education had provided the Islamic countries with an opportunity to come closer. He said he wanted to enhance cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan in the field of education.

The minister discussed exchange of expertise and knowledge regarding vocational and technical training, adding that the two countries could benefit from the experience of each other. He said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan should enhance their ties especially in exchange of technology, education and research. He said that digitalisation of the education sector can address numerous challenges of today and tomorrow.

Ms Kendirbaeva said people of Kyrgyzstan had deep affiliation with Pakistan. The Kyrgyzstan minister said the university-to-university cooperation was the way forward. She also briefed the minister about a digital learning platform being used in Kyrgyzstan that had reaped good results.

Meanwhile, the minister also met a delegation led by Deputy Minister for Education of Yemen Dr Ali Alabab. The meeting was also attended by Ambassador of Yemen to Pakistan Mohammed Motahar Alashabi and officials of the education ministry.

During the meeting, the education minister said both Yemen and Pakistan had suffered due to terrorism. He said education was the best way to progress for any country, adding collaboration in the fields of mutual benefit was essential.

Earlier on Sunday, Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani hosted a reception in honour of the participants of the international conference at Parliament House, which was attended by leading figures from across the globe, including political leaders, policymakers, and experts in the field of education and development.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2025