MINGORA: Civil society and youth activists, educationists and elected representatives on Friday set up a body to improve standard of education at schools of Swat district.

The district education advisory board was formed at a meeting chaired by Swat District Nazim Mohammad Ali Shah.

Speaking on the occasion, he said he was pleased to see that notables of the society had joined hands for a cause. “I need the support and input of such people for uplift of education in the district.”

Mr Shah said he would welcome ideas and recommendations for improving education standard in the region.

Education activist Dr Jawad Ahmad said several personalities who had achieved excellence in their respective fields were on the advisory board. “It is an education think-tank where experts will give suggestions to the education department and other stakeholders to address the shortcomings in the sector,” he added, saying the board would devise a mechanism to appreciate heroes in the education sector.

Executive chairman of the Idara Bara-i-Taleem-o-Tarbiat (IBT), Zubai Torwali from Upper Swat, said more than 80 per cent people migrated to down areas in winter due to which their children’s education suffered a lot. “Apart from seasonal migration, remote and mountainous areas of Mankyal, Kalam, Utror, Gabral, Ushu have no girls high school,” he said, asking the government to establish a high and higher secondary school for girls in the area.

Government Postgraduate College, Saidu Sharif, Principal Mohammad Zahir Shah said education, which had solution to all the problems facing the society, must be made qualitative. “There is an urgent need of ensuring security in educational institutes, presence of staff and students and providing equipment and facilities there,” he said, adding promotions and increments to teachers must be performance-based.

Swat District Education Officer Dr Hafiz Mohammad Ibrahim said the education department would welcome positive ideas and ensure their implementation for turning around the education sector. He said the KP government was keen to ensure quality education to students. “The present government is not only taking steps to improve infrastructure in educational institutions but also working to enhance enrolment,” he said.

The district education advisory board set a few targets for the upcoming four years that included bringing the Swat district at par with the top ten districts having good education standards, achieving 100 per cent enrolment in primary schools and ensuring zero per cent dropouts.

The advisory board members would hold regular meetings and conduct monitoring visits to schools, and give suitable suggestions to be implemented by the stakeholders.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015