Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Amir Haider Khan Hoti Sunday formally launched the Laptops distribution in public sector universities and degree colleges in the province. The ceremony was held in the Convocation Hall, University of Peshawar.
The chief minister on this occasion distributed thirty five laptops among students of BS four years degree programme of some thirty departments, three constituent colleges and two affiliated degree colleges of University of Peshawar.
The Chief Minister said education has remained as the top priority of his government. The chief minister said that Rs1 billion scheme was launched to facilitate students in their assignments activities and to keep the educated youth connected with world and bring them at par with the rest of the country.
He said that utmost importance has been given to ensuring transparency in the procurement and distribution of laptops among some 23,000 plus students studying in various degree programmes within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He directed the Vice-chancellors and head of institutions to monitor transparency in awarding of laptops to deserving students.
The Chief Minister pointed that biggest challenge confronting the country, especially Pakhtuns' insurgency and terrorism. We can overcome these threats by educating our young generation and that too in accordance with requirement of the world, he added.
He said that a few miscreants have portrayed a dismal picture of Pakhtuns in the globe, but let me tell the world that the educated youth sitting in front of me are the real images of our region. He urged students to serve as ambassador of peace for this region by getting excellent quality education.
About the financial crisis within University of Peshawar and other public sector universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially the established ones he said, it's the responsibility of the federal government to provide them with adequate funds till the next NFC awards. However Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government would give every possible financial support to them, he added.
The Chief Minister announced a grant of rupees one hundred million for the University of Peshawar, for purchase of buses for facilitation of the students and a sum of Rs10 million for golden jubilee celebrations of Peshawar University Teachers Association. He also directed the Secretary Higher Education, Farah Hamid to move the summary for approval of the money to his office by tomorrow.
About the allocation of funds for education, he said the budget for higher education has been enhanced from a mere 1 billion annually in 2007-08 to five billion in the year 2012-13.
Earlier, Secretary Education Farah Hamid in her briefing about the Nawa-e-Sahar Laptops said that some 23,147 laptops would be distributed under the scheme. She said students having secured 70 percent or above marks in their last semester examinations would be eligible to get their laptops while 60 percent marks minimum have been set as criterion for the students studying under the annual system in various institutions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Besides top forty position-holder of government Institutions from each board of intermediate and secondary education and board of technical education would also get laptops.