Federal Education Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani said on Thursday that prompt action would be taken in Farah Dogar case in the light of Islamabad High Court decision and the recommendations of the inquiry report. He was talking to the media men on the occasion of 24th medal and prize distribution ceremony 2008 arranged by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education here.
He said that the board had received inquiry report and action would be taken soon in the light of the court decision as well in the recommendations of the inquiry report. Commenting on the security in the capital, he said that action would be taken depending on the situation.
He said that news relating to the dropping of the chapter relating on "Jihad" from the curriculum was baseless, however, controversial things would be dropped from the new curriculum to improve the standard of education. He further added that appointment of the new teachers would be made soon on vacant posts.
The minister lauded the Federal Board for awarding cash prizes, trophies and certificates to the institutions; and cash prizes and certificates to the teachers, who produced good students. He said: "It gives me pleasure to hear that the Federal Board is taking interest in the improvement of the education system. It is making efforts to formulate new model question papers on the pattern of "O" and "A" Levels," he added.
Bijarani appraised the resorting of the FBISE to ISO 9001 certification to clinch qualitative orientation in terms of its services. The boards commitments to providing and promoting quality education and merit recognition were commendable.
He said that the government would come up with a comprehensive education policy on March 23. The Federal Ministry of Education, in consultation with the provincial education departments, had planned to introduce English from Class-I and also teaching science subjects in English, besides re-appropriation of teaching in various subjects at different levels, he added.
He said: "We are planning to take significant steps to revamp the curricula to ensure, as far as possible, that the new concepts and developments in science and technology are incorporated in it and that the improved curricula is progressive in its general outlook."
The minister further said: "We are also planning to divert a major chunk of our resources to the education sector. To achieve the target of 100 percent literacy by 2015, the present government is waging a crusade against illiteracy."
He felicitated all award-winners as well as their teachers and parents, who were, no doubt, instrumental in their progress, and urged them to strive for success in the higher studies. Federal Board Chairperson Shaheen Khan said that the board had trained over 3,000 teachers from both public and private institutions to develop a corps of competent and dedicated teachers.
She informed the participants that the Federal Board was making concerted efforts to promote quality education. She added that the board had held extensive workshops within the country and abroad and trained teachers of affiliated institutions. During the medal and prize distribution ceremony, eight students were awarded medals in recognition of their outstanding results in the SSC annual examination 2008, two of them given gold medals, three silver and three bronze.
Similarly, 18 medals were awarded to the HSSC students, of them five were given gold, six silver and seven bronze. Besides the medals, cash prize of Rs 40,000 was awarded to each gold medallist, Rs 30,000 to each silver medallist and of Rs 20.000 to each bronze medallist. Merit certificate was also given to each of them. Apart from this, students securing highest marks in 32 subjects were awarded certificates and cash prizes of Rs 5,000 each.
Muhammad Athar Azeem of FG Boys Model School, 1-10/2 Islamabad, obtained 806 marks out of 850 in the SSC Annual Examination 2008, while Zunaira Maryam of Army Public School and College, Sargodha Cantt, secured 1007 marks out of 1100 in the HSSC Annual Examination 2008 and stood first overall. They were each given a personal computer, besides gold medal, cash prizes and merit certificates. The board awarded 20 best teachers with Rs 50,000 each along with a certificate.
Army Public School, Attock Cantt. (SSC Level), Fauji Foundation College for Girls, New Lalazar, Rawalpindi (HSSC Level) and International School and College of Pakistan Kuwait (SSC and HSSC Level) were adjudged the best institutions in Pakistan and abroad of 2008 and were presented with trophies, certificates and cash prize of Rs 40,000 each.