ISLAMABAD: Member National Assembly Hanif Abbasi on Saturday stressed the need for improving the skills of the teachers to enhance the level of literacy and improve the quality of education in the country.

Addressing a seminar entitled ‘Education Emergency and our Responsibilities’ organised by the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Mr Abbasi said that the importance of education is known to all as it plays an important role in the development of individuals as well as of society at large.

Besides, no development is possible without skilled and trained human resources, he added.

The MNA lamented that there were around 26 million children are out-of-school and it is the prime responsibility of the whole society to enrol them and make them useful citizens not only for their families but for the country by imparting education and instilling skill development.

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry PresidentAhsan Zafar Bakhtawari demanded the government to allow evening classes in mosques, chamber houses, and community halls for the children whose parents are unable to bear the expenses of education.

Mr Bakhtawari said that ICCI is already working for the cause and that it has signed a number of MoUs with the universities for the promotion of industry-academia linkages, it is providing grants for construction of study rooms in schools and colleges, providing water filtration plants, computers, laboratory equipment, etc.

Dr Mohammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor National Skills University, Islamabad said that his university is giving opportunity to everybody to enter and equip himself with necessary skills to earn livelihood in respectable manners. He said that his university is ready to work with ICCI for imparting technical training to students who after matriculation fail to continue their education.

Dr Syeda Zia Batool, Chairperson, Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority said the authority had started registration of informal schools for the purpose to enhance the literacy level in the country.

Former Senator Mian Atiqur Rehman commended ICCI for organising the seminar over the issue and said that each and every individual has to enter the digital world by equipping himself with IT skills for the economic betterment of the country.

Bilal Aziz , Programme Specialist (Youth and Audit Literacy) of Japan International Cooperation Agency presented facts and figures about out-of-school children throughout Pakistan by saying that most of the children belonging to Islamabad have already been enrolled and the rest will be enrolled by the end of 2025.

Asma Malik, CEO Lift Foundation described that how out-of-school children can be enrolled in informal schools to impart them education and latest skills to make them productive individuals.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2024