ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: The federal minister for education, science and technology, Prof Attaur Rahman, has formulated four think tanks to improve quality of education.

According to a press release issued here on Thursday, these think tanks will deal separately with Elementary Education, Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, College Education, and Technical and Vocational Education.

A joint meeting of the four think tanks was held here, presided over by the science and technology minister. Members of the think tanks, education ministry secretary, Punjab education minister, Northern Areas education minister, and Punjab education secretary attended the meeting.

Spelling out his vision for improvement of education, Prof Rahman said the think tanks should prioritize the quality and relevance of education as the main issues. “Focus of our thinking should be on creating international compatibility and on unleashing the creativity of students instead of developing a habit of just memorizing things”, he said.

Elaborating the causes of low quality of education, he pointed out faculty as the single most important element. He asked the think tanks to particularly focus on this issue and formulate some feasible recommendations to upgrade the status and qualification of teachers.

The minister said numerous studies had already been carried out, reports prepared and reforms recommended for improvement of education. He asked the think tanks’ members to study these reports and make useful recommendations. He also asked them not to confine themselves to just recommendations, but translate the same into action plans.

The minister for Northern Areas thanked the government for giving priority to Northern Area in its educational programmes. He said the setting up of Karakoram University was a commendable step.

Prof Rahman, immediately after assuming charge as minister for education, had asked the education ministry to constitute the think tanks. The Thursday’s meeting was the first session held.

The think tanks, comprising eminent scholars and educationists from public and private sector, representing all the provinces, will be permanent bodies. To ensure their permanency, a summary will be immediately submitted to the president.

It has also been decided that formulation of recommendations and their implementation will go side by side. The think tanks will continuously provide feedback to the Ministry of Education which will arrange for its implementation.

It has also been decided that think tank will have representation of provincial educational and industries departments.

After the joint session all the think tanks held meetings separately.