LAHORE, Jan 29: Punjab Education Foundation chairman Shahid Hafeez Kardar says a comprehensive teachers’ training programme has been launched by the foundation. He said thousands of teachers of private schools of less developed areas had been provided professional training under a cluster-based training programme.

He said that an academic development unit had been established to impart professional training.

He was talking to representatives of private schools of the less developed areas at his residence, said a handout issued here on Monday.

Kardar said the decision of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi to provide free textbooks to students of the less-privileged private schools had been implemented throughout the province. He said the provision of free textbooks to the students of private schools would have a deep impact on promoting quality education and reducing economic burden of the less privileged communities.

He said enrolment of students had had increased manifold owing to schemes of the foundation.

He said the Punjab Education Foundation had decided to utilise the latest techniques of information technology in the capacity building of teachers.

The PEF chairman said the Punjab Education Foundation had provided training to the 11,000 teachers throughout the province.

He said that the establishment of academic development unit proved to be vital for the provision of professional training to the teachers.—APP