Moalims

LAHORE: Speakers at a roundtable held on Tuesday emphasised on improving the education sector in Punjab, especially schools which, they said, were missing basic facilities.
The seminar, titled “Punjab: Role of Political Parties for Better Education Opportunities and their Result”, was organised by the Institute of Social and Policy Sciences (ISAPS) and Alif-Ailaan at a local hotel. Present on the occasion were leaders of different political party, including PTI MPA Dr Murad Raas, Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Punjab Coordinator Naveed Chaudhry, MQM central Punjab member Muneer Ahmed, PAT Deputy General Secretary Advocate Ishtiaq Chaudhry, PML-Q Secretary Information Lahore Tamkeen Aftab, Chairman Standing Committee on Education in the Punjab Assembly Engineer Qamarul Islam Raja, Research Fellow ISAPS Ahmad Ali, parliamentarians, educationist and people from different walks of life people were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, ISAPS Research Fellow Ahmad Ali said that 7.5 million children of age group 5-16 are not going to school in Punjab. While talking about missing facilities in schools at Punjab he revealed that electricity is not available in 6,514 schools, toilet facilities is not present in 612 schools and water facility not exist in 795 schools. He also informed that boundary walls of 2,706 schools are not present which alarming situation for government after incident of firing at Army Public School in Peshawar. He also said that budget makers should include the inflation factor during making budge and demanded that from Punjab for allocating 30 percent of total budget on education. He also said that 4,727 school buildings are dangerous in Punjab, which can cause major incidents. The speakers said that budget was not discussed properly and when around the corner anybody is discussing on this topic. They highlighted the current challenges that exist in the education sector in province of Punjab. They also stressed on the importance of Article-25 and how it would help the state in proving free and compulsory education to every child between ages 5 to 16 years in the present and the future.
They said that last year 12 percent budget was increased if compared it with previous year budget 2013-2014. Almost every province is getting fruitful result of “Strengthening the Schools Council” while in this line first step was taken by Punjab government they admitted. They said that quality of education still is major issues and its outcome is not receiving well despite of strengthening the school councils. They also agreed on making rules of business for resources, private sector and organisational management which will be good steps. They said that government also makes sure its implementation on grass root level.
While in the discussion they demanded that Rs 4 billion are required to provide missing facilities for education sector in Punjab, including Rs 55 billion for construction of 73 thousand rooms. They also said that Rs 3.4 billion should allocate for on duty teachers training and Rs 1.4 billion pre training teachers. PML-N leaders giving response on question said that government has take initiative to introduce Solar panel in those schools where electricity is not available adding that 10 thousands class rooms will construction in next year.
Dr Murad Raas said ‘I appreciated the Punjab government for taking good measures for education in Punjab”. He emphasized that building structure is most important factor for educational institutions however it’s alarming situation in Punjab where 10 percent schools are most dangerous but government not take measures for demolishing and their renovation. All party members signed a resolution pledging their support for dealing with the existing challenges and helping on improving the education system in Punjab. The participants pledged to provide access and bring quality to education in the Province of Punjab.