RAWALPINDI, May 17: President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday said that reforms in the education sector should aim at equipping the younger generation with necessary tools of progress in the era of knowledge-driven economies as well as grooming them into dynamic and enlightened members of the society.

He stated this at a meeting of the National Committee for Scheme of Studies, which in consultation with all stakeholders and provincial governments is finalizing proposals for improving curricula and standard of examination.

Gen Musharraf said improvement in the education sector constitutes a vital part of the government’s emphasis on human resource development and added that high quality of education in the fields of science and technology is imperative for rapid development.

“We have to bring improvement in all aspects including the quality of education and the standard of examination — and put in place better facilities in libraries and computer laboratories to ensure that our younger generation receives contemporary knowledge, which is critical to sustained development,” he said.

In this context, he said the education system should encourage creative thinking and inculcate habit of reading. “We must move forward as a progressive, dynamic and enlightened nation,” he said.

Underscoring the importance of developing a balanced personality of students, the president said the curriculum of Islamic studies should focus on both Haqooq Allah and Haqooq ul Ibad.

The president supported suggestions for increase in salaries of teachers. He appreciated the comprehensive focus of the committee since its last meeting on Jan 19, 2006.

Earlier, Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi, made a presentation to the president about the suggestions of the committee.—APP