Islamabad, 17 July, 2023 (GNP): The Federal Education Minister Rana Tanveer stated on Sunday that the government aimed to bring 20 million out-of-school children into educational institutions.
“Education has always been our priority,” the minister expressed while addressing the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the academic block of Sheikhupura Regional Campus of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU).
He added that AIOU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood could play a key role in making this mission successful through his strong leadership qualities.
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Meanwhile, the minister told the objectives and outline of the project to the participants of the ceremony and also briefed them about the initiatives taken by the government for Sheikhupura district.
Tanveer also highlighted that the government had laid the foundation stone for the building of Sheikhupura Regional Campus last year.
“Today, we are laying the foundation stone of its academic block,” he added.
Moreover, the federal minister said, “It’s good to hear that Allama Iqbal Open University has been ranked first in the quality of education in Pakistan.”
Tanveer also congratulated the vice chancellor of AIOU and all the faculty members of the university for this accomplishment.
Furthermore, he stated that AIOU has been playing a significant role in training teachers and upgrading the quality of education in the country.
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The minister said that education has the power to put the countries on the path of development but the governments “must focus on merit, transparency, and quality”.
Speaking on the occasion, the vice chancellor of AIOU announced that the university would grant a total of Rs2 million per year as a scholarship fund for Sheikhupura.
He added that the fee of the students who got 80% would be refunded to them soon.
Professor Dr. Mahmood said that the AIOU has been bringing out-of-school juveniles into the educational web with the assistance of numerous institutions.
According to the sources, Pakistan Institute of Education Director General Dr. Shahid Soroya, Regional Services Director General Dr. Malik Tauqir Ahmad Khan, Sheikhupura Assistant Regional Director Javed Iqbal, Regional Directors of Lahore, Faisalabad, Narowal, Sialkot and Gujranwala, MNAs, educationists, and students also attended the ceremony.
