Madrassa students to appear in all Federal Board exams: Shafqat

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood Wednesday said religious seminaries have affirmed that their students would  appear in middle, matric and intermediate level examination of Federal Board  like other public, private schools.

He said the seminaries had, in principle, agreed with the federal government  initiative for bringing their students in the mainstream in order to ensure a  uniform education system in the country.

Addressing a press conference, he said the government had established  National Curriculum Council (NCC) under which the new curriculum from  class one to five was being prepared which would be introduced by  March 2020.

In this regard, he said, all stakeholders including public and private sector  schools, Madrassas, concerned departments had been taken on board on  the issue.

He said that after holding several meetings regarding religious seminaries  with Wafaq-Ul-Madaris, it had been decided that the Madrissa students would  appear in the middle, matric and intermediate examinations like the students  of other schools.

The passed students of Madrissa would be awarded the degrees of  matric and intermediate, he added.

Shafqat said the public, private schools and religious seminaries would  be bound to adopt One National Curriculum.

After intermediate, the Madrassa students would be eligible to join  civil, security and other services, he said.

This was the major achievement of the present government regarding implementation of the uniform education system, he remarked.

The federal cabinet in its last meeting had approved to open twelve  country-wide offices of the education ministry for the registration of the  religious seminaries.

For the purpose, the cabinet had also approved the budget of  Rs two billion for the next three years.

He said PC-I of the project was being prepared, adding that the  government would make efforts to enure proper use of funds.

On the demand of Madrassas, the government had provided them  the period of four to five years for completely implementing new  educational policy, he said.

He added the government would provide all out support including  financial and teaching to Madrassa’s after registration.

He lauded the efforts of Ulma-e-Karam, and other religious organizations  for their cooperation with the government to achieve the task of bringing  uniformity in educational system.

He also appreciated the role of religious seminaries for playing their  vital role in provision of education especially to the poor.

He assured that the standard of the new national curriculum would  be set as per international level. The new curriculum would be included  the ethical subjects for the characterization of the students so that they  could be a good citizen.

The government, he said, was in consultation with all stakeholders in  formulation of new educational policy and assured the matter would also  be discussed in the Inter Provincial Ministers Conference.

The subjects for the students of religious seminaries would be finalized  by the Madrassas, he said.

To a question, he said the government under Ahsaas Programme  would provide Rs five billion to the Higher Education Commission for  the awarding of scholarships to the undergraduate students with an  aim to support the deserving students.

Replying to another query, he said the government through modern  technology would provide quality education to the students of  far-flung areas.