ISLAMABAD, Feb 20: Minister of State for Education Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli said on Tuesday that the government was committed to providing equal educational opportunities to every citizen, regardless of his or her socio-economic, cultural or ethnic background.

She was speaking at the opening ceremony of a workshop on “child friendly inclusive education” organised by Federal Directorate of Education in Islamabad.

She said that the government was alive to its responsibilities and would make every possible effort to provide opportunities to children irrespective of their abilities and disabilities to end their sense of deprivation and isolation by bringing them into mainstream schools of the country.

She said ministry of education would consider the recommendations thrashed during the course of the workshop while carrying out strategy of provision of child friendly education, across the country.

She said that government was pursuing numerous steps to bring about revolutionary changes in the education sector and preparing of new syllabus incorporating all modern requirements was giving testimony in this regard.

Later, talking to mediapersons, the minister said that it would be ensured that every textbook was free from pictures of Chief minister, Prime Minister, President or any other minister, etc., to provide politics-free education to the citizen.

Replying to a question, she said that strict criteria had been laid down to have textbooks written by quality writers with their complete biodata, and the provincial governments like the NWFP would not be able to distort facts in textbooks, especially Pakistan Studies.—APP