Premier stresses quality education
By Adnan Rafique
ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz acknowledging and appreciating the
role of teachers in the promotion of education Wednesday said quality
teachers are critical for quality education and developing a child’s
capacity and desire to learn.
He was addressing a function here at National Library in connection with
World Teachers Day to acknowledge and praise the services of teachers
for the education under the theme “Salam Teachers’ Day”.
The day is being celebrated every year on October 5, as proclaimed by
the United Nations to recognize the teaching profession and to raise
public awareness about the vital contribution of teachers to the
society.
The Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government is committed to
provide best possible facilities to the teachers and increase their
benefits so that they could play their role more effectively in
increasing literacy rate.
He said teachers had to fulfil the responsibilities to educate the
leaders of tomorrow and added that they should take this responsibility
seriously and as a sacred trust.
Aziz said the teachers are the pivot in any education system, and they
are performing their role according to the best of their abilities
despite severe constraints and expectations.
The Prime Minister said without human resources development, there could
be no serious reconstruction and development of the country and role of
teachers at primary, secondary, high and university level could not be
denied.
He said the youth is the future of the country and best investment to
groom the youth and train them for the future challenges is to invest in
education.
The Prime Minister while referring to his teachers for their
contribution, said teaching is a noble profession despite having many
serious problems.
Referring to the importance of the teaching profession, the Prime
Minister said there is need to promote professional efficiency of
teachers in the country for effective service delivery.
He said the government is conscious of the need of the teachers to
improve their enabling environment, to move from general education to
specialized and professional training to impart quality teaching.
Shaukat Aziz said all the teachers, at every level, should receive high
quality basic training and they should also receive in-service training
and continuing education so that they could further develop as education
professionals and maintain the highest standards in the profession.
The Prime Minister said teacher’s social status could be enhanced
through two-pronged strategy with providing them effective training,
decent working conditions and remuneration.
Shaukat Aziz while referring to the Hadith of Holy Prophet Muhammad
(Peace Be Upon Him) said the Prophet also emphasised the need to get
education even if one has to go to China.
He said teacher’s training is an integral part of the education policy
of the government to upgrade the quality of pre-service teachers
training programme to make the teaching profession attractive for young
talented graduates through a package of incentives.
Shaukat Aziz said besides the critical role of the teachers, parents
should have to play their key role in taking responsibility for their
children’s education and urged the parents to send their children to
school.
The Prime Minister said the school is a place of learning and the
schools must be safe havens where teachers could teach and students
learn.
Paying tributes to teachers and saying “Salam Teachers”, the Prime
Minister commended the teachers for their resilience under difficult
conditions.
The Prime Minister highlighting the role of teachers said the challenge
before them is to mould the youth and make Pakistan a winning nation and
expressed the hope that the teachers would make a contribution to the
prosperity and growth of the economy and to help build a better life for
all Pakistanis.
Appreciating the role of his teachers in building his character, the
Prime Minister said he was privileged to get quality education from his
teachers.
He said President Musharraf and he made special efforts to increase the
allocations for education sector and added that federal and provincial
governments together had allocated rs. 160 billion for education sector
in the current fiscal year.
The Prime Minister while appreciating the role of Madaris, said these
institutions are playing very effective and important role in promoting
education particularly the religious education.
He said besides religious and normal education, there is a need to
impart technical and vocational education to cater the needs of future.
He said only literate nation could make progress, therefore, the
government had been taking special measures to increase literacy rate as
illiterate nations could never progress.
The Prime Minister said government alone could not fulfil the needs of
education, therefore, the private sector and civil society should come
forward to further promote the education in the country.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistanis have the capabilities to face the
challenges in the world and added that due to their abilities now
Pakistan is a nuclear state and its economy is improving.
He said when President Musharraf took over the government in October
1999, the country’s economic condition was very bad and the government
had no money even for salaries for next month.
The Prime Minister appreciated the role of Ministry of Education and
National Commission for Human Development in promoting the education and
increasing the enrolment.
The Prime Minister said there is need to march forward as an educated
and disciplined nation to meet the future challenges.
Minister of State for Education Mrs. Ghulam Bibi Bharwana, Chairman
National Commission for Human Development Dr. Nasim Ashraf and Chairman
Higher Education Commission Dr. Atta ur Rehman speaking on the occasion
highlighted the respect and honour of the teachers.
They said the teachers are important and integral part of promoting and
providing education, therefore, the teachers should be given due respect
and distinction.
They said recognition of teachers at national level started last year
when the government started celebrating the Teachers Day.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other dignitaries called their teachers
today on phone and appreciated their contribution for imparting best
quality education.
Later, the Prime Minister distributed gold medals and certificates among
29 best teachers from different parts of the country including Northern
Areas.
The Prime Minister also announced to send these teachers to Saudi Arabia
to perform Umra on the expenditures of government.
Moreover, the best teachers got cash of rupees 20,000 each in
recognition of their services in the education department. |
