Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has inaugurated the Public Schools Reorganization Program which will save Rs. 40 billion and provide employment opportunities to 70 thousand educated youth. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif also announced to build kindergarten schools in other districts after Lahore. The CM distributed licenses for Public Schools Reorganization Program in the ceremony. Other persons including three sisters of Dera Ghazi Khan and Akhut, Public Schools Reorganization Program (PSRP) and Muslim Hands were also given licenses. The Chief Minister also addressed the Public Schools Reorganization Program ceremony. CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, “The minister of PTI committed corruption of one billion rupees by reducing the paper size of textbooks and NAB should file a case. Nothing but corruption happened in Punjab for five years. Transfer postings were being done on the basis of nepotism. For five years, there was nothing but corruption in the government of wise men.”
The CM said, “I can swear that outsourcing of schools was undertaken on hundred percent merit basis. The services of visiting faculty can also be hired for English speaking. The curriculum in the schools will be of the Punjab government and monitoring will also be undertaken by the Punjab government. Under the Public School Reorganization Program, all schools will be upgraded from five to eight classes. A theme should be set in schools to awaken the talents of children.”
She said, “Sports talent will be brought to surface in the government schools. We will provide transport facilities for girls' educational institutions. The Public School Reorganization Program is not a business proposition but a sacred responsibility. It is essential to arrange best curriculum for the children. The children of government schools are very intelligent and have no shortcoming, they are attaining top positions despite the dearth of facilities.”
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif added. “If the children get facilities like private schools, then they they can easily compete with the children of private schools. If the schools getting outsourced carry out innovative work beyond our expectations then we will provide them extra funds as well. The responsibility for setting the direction of the nation rests with the Department of Education and the relevant Minister. Education is very close to my heart, Alhamdulillah, what we dreamed has been launched today. I have seen by visiting myself, nor do I take decisions while sitting in the office. I visit the field and review myself. We are introducing maximum relief oriented projects for the people at all levels. We will succeed in improving the quality of education. Out of 49 thousand, 14 thousand schools will be run through public private partnership. In the first phase, 5800 schools are being outsourced. We will do monitoring and supervision ourselves. The mafia created a conspiracy narrative against the Public School Reorganization Program that schools are being given to the contractors and we will not allow this to happen. A great deal of good practice has been adopted for schools outsourcing and the solution to the problems of schools lies in public-private partnership.”
The CM said, “Dozens of applications came for each school, well-known school chains also applied. Under the Public School Reorganization Program, there has been improvement in the building, cleanliness, outlook and lab. The windows of the schools are broken in winter and the fans are out of order in summer. A zebra crossing will be made near every school for the safety of children. A staff will also be assigned to help children cross the road. The Punjab government has imposed a ban on transportation which plys without obtaining fitness certificate and indulge into overloading. The situation in schools in Punjab is still better as compared to other provinces. There are still some schools in Punjab, where there are 200 children and only two teachers. There is also a school where there are 40 teachers and two children. I am pleased to know that educated youth will run the schools. There are 50,000 schools in Punjab and it is difficult to guard every school at all times. The people who have been outsourced have become part of the Punjab Government’s team.”
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif said, “Early School Education is a huge project. We have launched it from Lahore and will InshaAllah be taken to the whole of Punjab. Rich parents register their children in two and a half years, but there is no facility for the children of the poor. During paying a visit to a school, the school principal apprised that children come to school and faint due to hunger in the afternoon. School nutrition program has been started in three districts of South Punjab to eliminate child malnutrition and stunted growth. The milk being provided under the school nutrition program is fortified with all the nutrients by the expert nutrition team. Inshallah, we will spread school nutrition program throughout Punjab.”
The Chief Minister added, “The Punjab government is launching the laptop scheme from November. Students coming on merit will get laptops. Laptop scheme is a project of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, we are launching the scholarship program worth Rs. 25 billion. If a child gets admission in a public or private university on merit but cannot pay the fee then we will pay the fee. Now there will be no child who cannot continue his education due non-payment of fee. The Youths will be able to study with scholarships in FAST, NUST, LUMS, COMSATS and other famous public and private universities. A child from a poor family cannot afford to study in LUMS, but if he gets admission, his full fee will be paid by the Punjab government. The registration process for the scholarships program will start soon.”
Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, while speaking, explained the aims and objectives of the Public Schools Reorganization Program. MD Punjab Education Foundation Shahid Fareed also addressed the event.
Senator Pervaiz Rasheed, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari, Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, Special Assistants Rashid Nasrullah, Zeeshan Malik, Parliamentary Secretary Nausheen Adnan, Assembly Members, Chief Secretary, Secretary Education, MD Punjab Education Foundation and other relevant officials were also present on the occasion.