SWABI, Jan 30: Education is the only panacea for the ills confronting society. This was the crux of speeches delivered at an education conference held at the Government High School here on Sunday.

The conference was attended by MNAs, MPAs and officials of education department. Teachers also participated in the conference where the chief guest was provincial Education Minister Maulana Fazal Ali.

Mr Ali said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal would never allow the taking over of the education system by the Aga Khan Board. Those who wanted to bring about these reforms were actually diverting youngsters from the true spirit of education and Islamic teachings, the minister said.

Customs, values, traditions and, most importantly, religion should be kept in mind before introducing any reforms, he said. "The main purpose of education is not just teaching pupils how to read and write but inculcating moral values and patriotism in the hearts of the young," he said.

"We would bring about changes in education system according to our own requirements," the minister said. The community of teachers, he said, could play a major role in imparting quality education.