Salam Teachers' Day marked: Buzdar for staging protest march to end unemployment and poverty

Punjab chief minister Sardar Usman Buzdar Saturday said that the PTI government is determined for bringing improvement in the national economy and to raise the living standard of common man. "There is howling nowadays regarding the march. If march is that much necessary, it should be carried out for the eradication of poverty, unemployment, backwardness besides improving the health and education related facilities. I myself will participate in that march. Positive results of our sincere efforts will soon be surfaced," the CM said while addressing a ceremony held in connection with Salam Teachers' Day at Awan-e-Iqbal on Saturday.

The Chief Minister also distributed commendatory certificates among the teachers who exhibited outstanding performance. He said that Pakistan is facing serious internal and external challenges. He said that role of teachers in setting approach and thinking of the students is of great importance. What am I today is because of my teachers and I salute to them. Usman Buzdar said that he is feeling proud to participate in Salam Teachers' Day ceremony. He said that teachers are among the most respectable people of the society.

Punjab government has taken a number of steps for the welfare of teachers. Our government has declared year 2019 as the Teachers' year. First time e-transfer policy has been introduced in the history of the province and twenty thousand teachers have been transferred purely on merit in the first phase of this policy. In order to get rid of cramming culture in public schools, it has been decided to impart education in Urdu medium at primary level initially.

The CM announced to abolish the board exams of 5th grade and to issue Insaf Health Card to the teachers and their family members. He said that under Chief Minister Award Scheme, cash prize of Rs0.5 million and commendatory certificates will be given to best male and female teachers in every district whereas cash prize will also be given to head mistresses for their best services in the schools.

Usman Buzdar said that 100 model schools have been established in ten districts whereas construction of 25 hundred new classrooms at primary level is being carried out in 13 districts. Project has been evolved for setting up 1000 science labs, 1000 computer labs and 400 libraries in the schools. 615 new classrooms will be constructed under Early Childhood Education Plan.

He thanked the DFID for its cooperation for the betterment of education sector in Punjab. Additional classrooms are being constructed in two thousand schools in Punjab with the cooperation of DFID besides ensuring the provision of missing facilities in these schools. DFID has provided approximately 38 million pounds for improving the condition of schools and education sector in Punjab.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019