'Poor students receiving modern education in Daanish schools'

Punjab Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that students of Daanish Schools will prove to be Pakistanis in real sense and play an active role in the development of the country and service of the masses. He said that six Daanish Schools are imparting modern education to the students in Bahawalpur Division while eight more schools will be set up in Attock, Mianwali, Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan during the current year.
Giving approval in principle regarding a special quota for the students of other provinces in Daanish schools, the chief minister said that it will promote national solidarity and brotherhood in accordance with the policy of Punjab government.
He was presiding over the seventh meeting of Daanish Schools Authority, here Thursday. Shahbaz said that setting up of Daanish schools in the backward and far-flung areas is resulting in promotion of education in these areas, which will ultimately spread to every corner of the province. He said that besides imparting modern knowledge to the children of deprived segments of the society, these schools have also promoted a feeling in them that they have as much right over national resources as the elite.
He observed that Pakistan was created for the purpose of ensuring equal rights to all citizens but a handful of elite enjoyed all privileges during the last 64 years while the majority of people remained deprived of even the basic facilities. He said that the poor are shedding their blood and sweat for national development and progress and it is the responsibility of the society to ensure due return to them for their labour. He said that the poorest of the poor students are receiving modern education in Daanish schools and the scope of this project will be extended to the entire province.
The chief minister said that entire credit for bringing the deprived segments of the society into the national mainstream goes to PML-N which has diverted resources to the marginalized classes and less-developed areas. It has laid the foundation of a revolution in the education sector by starting the project of Daanish schools in backward areas.
Issuing instructions for giving a final shape to the financial model of Daanish schools at the earliest, the chief minister directed that such individuals should be inducted in the board of governors of these schools who have a will to serve the country and equip new generation with modern education. He said that retired teachers, judges, civil servants and the best individuals from various sectors of life should be selected for this purpose and it should be ensured that bureaucracy and political influence do not have any interference in the management of these schools.
On the occasion, Shahbaz issued instructions for conducting performance audit of teachers and students of Daanish schools. He said that discipline in students is of vital importance and the students should be trained on proper lines for grooming their personality. He said that Pakistan is a poor country and government has limited resources therefore, it cannot afford extravagant expenditure.
He said that in the light of construction of Daanish Schools, measures would be adopted for curtailing cost of construction of new schools, however, no compromise should be made on the quality and standard of these. He issued instructions for taking immediate steps for construction of mosques in the schools and directed that administration of the mosques should be completely free of sectarian prejudices and educate the students in accordance with the Qur'an and Hadith.
The chief minister directed that second shift in the schools should also be considered and recommendations should be submitted to him in this regard in the next meeting. He said that financial assistance is being extended to the students, facing economic problems from Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, for helping them pursue their academic activities. He added that lakhs of students of all the four provinces as well as Azad Kashmir are benefiting from this fund. He said that the fund has been set up with a sum of Rs four billions and an amount of rupees two billion is being added to the fund every year.
He termed establishment of Punjab Educational Endowment Fund a revolutionary step for the uplift of education sector and helping talented students complete their education, therefore, it should continue. He said that quota for the students of other provinces should also be reserved in Daanish Schools for promotion of national solidarity and brotherhood and a policy should soon be evolved for this purpose. He informed that five percent quota has already been allocated for the students of Cholistan in these schools.