The School Education Department of Punjab government has notified the conversion of all its public schools from Urdu to English medium from the next academic year. The decision of the government is to compete in knowledge in the globalise world, it is said by the spokesman of the School Education Department.
He said that the protest on the part of teachers is not justified, instead they should appreciate the government's efforts whereby the level of the teachers is being upgraded through capacity-building programme. With a view to enabling the teachers to teach English medium books, all headmasters/headmistresses and senior teachers have been designated to "Master Trainers" programme and they have already undergone six-day training course in spoken English.
They will train the other teachers in spoken English in 12-day courses as "Master Trainer" programme. Giving the details of the conversion programme, the spokesman said that government of Pakistan has approved in the curriculum-2006 that the subjects of Mathematics, science and social studies will be taught in English.
The Department has issued instructions for the implementation of the decision of the federal government, however, the government of the Punjab has been implementing their decision gradually. In first phase, some of primary, middle and high schools have been selected for teaching the above mentioned subjects in English.
From April 1, 2010, some more schools have been added in this programme, while from April 1, 2011, all schools of the province will be converted into English medium. The spokesman said that the training programme is aimed to improve the teaching skills of the teachers.
The government has taken many steps for the welfare of teachers and has approved heavy package for the financial benefits of the teachers. The spokesman condemned the protest of the teachers and affirmed that government would keep on working on its initiatives without considering such issues which have no way and they will be discouraged.