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ABBOTABAD: Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan has announced 4.1 million children enrolled in government schools deserved their due share of attention.
He was speaking at the 28th annual parents day at the Modern Schooling System Abbottabad on Saturday. Students were also present on the occasion. K-P Government Spokesperson and Special Assistant to CM Mushtaq Ghani, former provincial minister Shaukat Yousufzai and Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) Chairperson Zamurd Khan were in attendance.
He said PTI realised the importance of education and the provincial administration has dedicated a large amount to the sector in the budget.
Atif Khan said the provincial government acknowledged the contribution of private educational institutions. However, he insisted government schools must be given priority.
“It is in these schools that students from marginalised and middle class are studying,” he said. “Without promoting them, the goal of prosperity cannot be achieved.”
The minister said there were as many as 8,000 schools without boundary walls when the PTI-led provincial government took charge and several institutes even lacked furniture. He claimed the current regime constructed the boundary walls of 7,000 schools, while furniture worth Rs7.5 billion was also provided.
In addition, 10,000 new and old schools will have play areas and be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, he revealed.
Referring to statements made by PTI’s detractors, the provincial education minister said constructing high-rise buildings and road networks were not indicators of development and prosperity. He added a society with transparency, merit, justice and accountability qualified as a truly developed one.
“What PTI has done so far speaks volumes of its efforts towards real change,” he said, adding institutions were functioning on the basis of merit.
He urged parents not to force their children into choosing professions for the sake of money. Atif said students must turn into upstanding citizens as this would have a positive impact on society as a whole.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2015.
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