Senate Body On Education Lauds Govt's New Education Policy Framework

Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training unanimously on Wednesday lauded the government's initiative to launch National Education Policy Framework, aimed at achieving SDG goals on education during the next four years

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Jan, 2019 ) :Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training unanimously on Wednesday lauded the government's initiative to launch National Education Policy Framework, aimed at achieving SDG goals on education during the next four years.

The committee meeting, presided over by Chairperson Senator Rahila Magsi, was attended by Senators Mushahid Hussain Syed, Syed Muzzafar Hussain Shah, Najma Hameed, Nauman Wazir Khatak, Prof Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, representatives from education ministry, HEC, law ministry, FBISE, Kohat and Quaid-e-Azam universities.

Commenting on the new education policy framework, the members also commended the efforts of education minister in this regard.

Speaking during the meeting, Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said "having more number of PhD's is good but we should improve the quality of education." He said that under the new education policy framework, the government has initially identified four key issues and their solutions including quality education, out of school children, skills development and uniform education system.

Shafqat Mahmood said the improvement in the literacy rate was also included the new policy framework. The literacy rate will be increased from 58 percent to maximum level, he added.

The minister said that the new education policy would be finalized keeping in view the education framework.

He said that provinces are also being taken on board regarding new education policy through Inter Provincial Education Ministers Conference.

Executive Director Higher Education Commission (HEC) Lt. General (r) Muhammad Asghar said that during the announcement of converting prime minister house into a state of the art university, HEC ensured Prime Minister Imran Khan that this university would be the best institution of research.

The Islamabad National University (INU), he said initially would provide education on four key sectors including climate change, governance, technology and development. The university will also be focused on emerging trends in Pakistan, he told.

The committee also discussed the agenda on the Area Study Centre (Amendment Bill 2017".

During the briefing Senator Syed Muzzafar said that Area Study Centre was established with an aim to conduct research especially relating to foreign affairs.

He demanded that this centre should be given an separate status from the education ministry and it should be administered by the foreign ministry. He also presented a copy of contribution made by the centre in formulation of foreign policy.

The Senators fully endorsed the suggestions of Syed Muzzafar Hussain and said that it should be an autonomous institution. The centre is need of the hour keeping in view regional as well as global circumstances, he added.

The Minister for Education while responding on the matter said "We agree with the aims and objectives of the contents regarding centre." Such area centers are also working in different provinces and linked with universities, he added.

He said that HEC has increased their budget from more than double to ten times, during the last sixteen years as compare to the past.

He said that many books have been authored at these study centers adding, after transferring of administration control to education ministry, the performance of these centers has improved.

However, Chairperson of the committee deferred the matter till next meeting for furtherdiscussion.