Lahore : Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting regarding School Education Department in which outsourced schools, School Meal Program and other projects were reviewed. In the meeting, it was decided to give “School of the Month” award for the first time on the basis of discipline, classroom, lab and quality of education and “Teacher of the Month” award for best performance. The Chief Minister directed to take steps with regard to launching ‘On-Wheel Montessori School’ project. The meeting also decided to introduce school van/bus service in government schools for the first time across Punjab. She sought a comprehensive plan for the first regular school bus service. Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat gave a detailed briefing to the participants regarding the School Education Department.
It was informed in the briefing that excellent results are being achieved in outsourcing schools in Punjab. Student enrolment has increased by 99 percent and the number of teachers by 114 percent. Avenues of decent employment opportunities for more than 60,000 have opened for the educated youth. It was informed in the meeting that the Punjab School Education Department has set a record for the world’s largest successful public-private partnership. Outsourcing government schools has increased enrolment by 1.3 million in just 16 months. Another 10,500 schools will be outsourced in a year.
It was informed in the briefing that 40,000 applications were received for outsourcing 5,700 government schools in the first phase. The target of improving 80 percent infrastructure in outsourced schools has been achieved. After outsourcing government schools, the number of students increased by 453,000 in a few months. The number of teachers in outsourced schools increased from 8,000 to 17,196. 413 new classrooms, renovation of 5,018 classrooms, and roof repairs of 2,887 rooms were completed in outsourced schools. 254538 square meters of boundary walls were also built in outsourced government schools. More than 50 outsourced schools were shifted to solar energy instead of conventional electricity. 1643 water tanks, 5830 water coolers and 9303 new blackboards were installed in outsourced schools.
It was further informed in the briefing that children will get midday meal under self-help basis in various outsourced schools including Faisalabad. 70977 furniture sets have been provided for students in outsourced schools. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif started successful pilot project of Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), Education Tech Schools. She directed to launch Education Tech Schools in villages as well. The pilot project for English conversation is on going successfully. Under the program, 3 lakh children will gain proficiency in English conversation under IELTS Standard-4 in 6 months. 10,000 classrooms have been prepared for Early Childhood Education in every district of Punjab.
The Chief Minister directed to increase the number of children in the Nawaz Sharif Center of Excellence from 240 to 1,500. The meeting agreed to start School Meal Program in the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali and Bahawalnagar. On this occasion, the proposal to provide energy bars, biscuits and other items to children besides milk was reviewed. The meeting set a target of constructing classrooms in government schools across Punjab by the end of this year.
More than 400 toilet blocks will be completed in girls’ schools. Google training for children and teachers is successfully underway. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed to build 6,000 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other labs across Punjab. She expressed satisfaction over rationalization in understaffed and overstaffed schools. She underscored that imparting quality teacher training is essential for ensuring the quality of education. The entrances to schools should be improved on a uniform pattern across Punjab. She vowed that we intend to improve the quality of government schools much better than good private schools in Punjab.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
