The Punjab government has decided to introduce technical education in the schools and as a first step 39 schools have been identified to impart technical education from 8th to 10th classes. Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting here on Thursday which held detailed review of various programmes of educational promotion as well as educational matters pertaining to Cholistan area in Bahawalpur division.
The meeting accorded approval to the launch of "meals program" for students in schools across the province besides according approval to provision of school bags to the students. It also decided to start "Khadim-e-Punjab School Sawari program" in the province. As a pilot project, the meals program will be started from the districts of Muzaffargarh and Layyah. Under this program, the students will be provided packets of energy biscuits and milk to help improve their health.
While addressing the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif said that under the "Khadim-e-Punjab School Sawari Program," school students will be provided free transport facilities and hopefully it would especially benefit students from far-flung and remote areas. He said the pilot project of this program will be started from six selected districts of the province.
He said that innovative approach is needed to bring 100 percent male and female children of Cholistan area to schools to achieve educational targets. These targets could be achieved by involving the local NGOs in educational programs relating to the Cholistan, he said, adding: "I want every Cholistani boy and girl to be in the schools."
He said that mobile schooling is a good initiative and the number of such mobile schools should be increased in Cholistan. The Chief Minister directed to constitute a committee which would recommend different proposals for the promotion of education after visit of Cholistan. In the light of the recommendations of this committee, different steps would be taken for education promotion in an organised manner.
Secretary Schools Education Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik gave a detailed presentation about implementation on educational programs and the future course of action. Provincial Ministers Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Syed Raza Ali Gillani, Chairman Punjab Education Foundation Engr Qamar-ul-Islam Raja, Additional Chief Secretary, Vice Chairman PEEF, secretaries of different departments, educational experts and concerned officials attended the meeting while Provincial Minister Iqbal Channar, MPA Ejaz Shafi and Commissioner Bahawalpur division attended the meeting through video link.
Meanwhile, in another meeting, Shehbaz reviewed progress on different aspects of Khadim-e-Punjab Ujala Program. While addressing the meeting, Shehbaz said that under this program, 20,000 schools will be converted into solar energy in phases. In the first phase, solar panels will be provided to more than 10,000 schools in the southern Punjab. An amount of Rs 9 billion will be spent on this program, he added.