ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: The federal education ministry is planning to introduce a free education scheme up to secondary level in all schools and model colleges of the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in near future.

According to the government officials, a summary has been prepared in this regard, which will be forwarded to the cabinet in its next meeting for formal approval.

Federal Minister of Education Zobaida Jalal, when contacted confirmed that the federal government had agreed in principle to provide free education up to matriculation in the government-run educational institutions of the capital.

She maintained that there were certain financial modalities in this regard, which were yet to be finalised, otherwise the government had decided to implement the scheme from the next academic year.

“Our government attaches top priority to education, and will take more steps to improve this sector,” she further said. She said the public sector was the only available option for poor students especially those living in remote areas of the country, hence it owed great responsibility to provide them cheap and better education.

Answering a question, she said the government was committed to devolve financial and administrative powers to the school levels which, she claimed, was the only means to improve the standard of education in the country.

The minister was of the view that unless more facilities and incentives were offered to the teachers especially women teachers in remote areas besides involvement of local representatives, the public sector could not thrive.