A colourful ceremony was held at 90-Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam under the aegis of Punjab Schools Education Department in which new educational policy entitled the New Deal for Punjab 2018-23 was formally launched. The function was presided over by the Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and Provincial Minister Murad Raas, Secretary Schools, intellectuals, scholars and educationists attended the ceremony. The purpose of the function was to apprise the stakeholders about various salient features of the new policy.
In his address, Provincial Minister Murad Raas said that government wants to introduce the school education system which is in accordance with the needs of the country and Punjab could also emerge as the best center of education in the whole world. He said that new education policy will also help to sensitize the youth about the philosophy of Allama Iqbal. While giving details of the policy, he said that PTI gives top importance to education adding that future of the youth could be secured through investment in education. Punjab Schools Education Department is going to introduce a new educational system as the system is being revamped to provide better services to the people. In this regard, teachers should also play their active role to achieve the results. He said that improvements will be made in the syllabus by March 2020 and the standard of government schools will be enhanced so that they could achieve their lost glory and fame. He said that examination of five and eighth class under Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) are being scrapped to save the children from extra burden. Best performing principals and head teachers will be posted in schools to gain best results along with improving the quality of education of government run schools. He said that short term, long term and mid term plans are being introduced for government schools and use of information technology is being encouraged so that the students could remain aware of latest changes in their syllabus. The Schools Education Department is also devising a data bank by using information technology to place the departmental information at one place and required information will be available at one click. He said that digital textbooks for four and five class have been launched and android application is also introduced which is an important step towards digital revolution in the education. He informed that afternoon schools are being started in selected primary schools of 20 districts to educate the out of school children near to their homes. The government is also committed to promote sports activities in the schools. He informed that primary education will be given in Urdu and English will be taught as a subject. He said that necessary amendments will be made in special act of free and compulsory education. Similarly, sports, physical education and clean drinking water will be compulsory in the schools. He said that e-transfer policy is being introduced to best manage the posting transfer issues of the teachers and this will facilitate the teachers in their jobs. The students will also be provided various education related facilities so as to improve their intellectual ken. The function was also addressed by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar. The children presented tableau and sang Iqbal’s poetry.