ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Thursday said that the final decision regarding the reopening of educational institutes will be taken with consensus, in the Inter-Provincial Ministers Conference on September 7, after examining the incidence of Covid-19.

He said this, while talking to media persons, after the National Command and Operation Center meeting held here on Thursday.

“The education sector will be reopened in line with the recommendations of the Federal Health Ministry, which will also develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the functioning of schools and colleges,” said Mahmood, emphasizing that the educational institutes must ensure compliance with all the Covid-19 protocols and prepare accordingly before the final decision.

He said that the government was formulating a strategy about reopening of educational institutes.

The education minister said that the institutions be opened on top to bottom approach starting from the universities to the high schools on rotation basis, and added that extra curricular activities would not be allowed.

Mahmood said the ministry’s Teleschool initiative launched on April 7 during the closure of schools was appreciated internationally as it benefited around eight million students across the country.

“The first experience of online classes at higher education level was successful. However, some issues related to internet connectivity emerged in far-off areas that are being sorted out,” he said.

The minister said though distance learning had been there for years, its importance was highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, so an institution regarding distance education system had been established in the Education Ministry to meet future needs.

The minister said as part of educational reforms, the Centre had developed the draft “single national curriculum” in consultation with the provinces and experts and in line with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to remove disparities between education standards of urban and rural areas, ensure equal opportunities for competition and progress to both the rich and the poor, and increase enrolments in government schools.

“New model textbooks are being prepared, while the new curriculum from grade one to grade five will be introduced in government, private and religious schools across the country by April next year. That curriculum will consist of subjects on national heroes, tales, and unanimous heritage of the country,” he said.

Mahmood said the new syllabus was developed in line with international standards and was meant to meet current and future needs and would reform madrassa education and thus, provide seminary students with career opportunities in both civil and armed forces institutions.

The minister said as seminaries played a key role in educating a large deprived segment of society, the ministry signed an agreement with a seminary regulator, Wafaqul Madaris, for the registration of religious schools across the country.

The minister said besides providing regular education, the federal government had also focused on skill development sector to create better employment opportunities for youths.

Mahmood said 50,000 students of higher education were given away scholarships under the Ehsaas Programme, while the Education Ministry had allocated own funds for the scholarships of nursing training of 1,000 nurses.

He added that a hefty amount of funds were doled out for scholarships of art and culture education.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020