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During the 37th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ Conference (IPEMC), Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Mr. Madad Ali Sindhi, stressed the importance of collaboration between provinces and the federal government to address education-related issues. The conference, specifically convened to discuss the “Formulation of Uniform National Strategy to Cater to the issue of Out of School Children (OOSC),” brought together education ministers and officials to deliberate on critical challenges.
Key Points Highlighted by Mr. Madad Ali Sindhi:
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Out-of-School Children (OOSC): The federal minister identified the enrollment of out-of-school children as a significant challenge and acknowledged its prioritization. He emphasized that addressing the issue of OOSC and improving the quality of education were top priorities.
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Quality of Education: Mr. Sindhi highlighted the need for improvements in the quality of education at all levels, including schools, colleges, and universities. He expressed confidence in the availability of sufficient resources to make a positive impact and called for concerted efforts with honesty.
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Inclusive Approach: The Education Ministry, under Mr. Sindhi’s leadership, is committed to adopting an inclusive approach in devising strategies that benefit students, teachers, and parents across all provinces.
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Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: The strategy promotes a multi-stakeholder approach, fostering active collaboration between various entities, including public and private sectors, regulatory bodies, telecom operators, private security firms, academia, and civil society.
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Public Awareness: Creating awareness among the public, especially students, about cyber threats, safe online practices, and the importance of reporting incidents is identified as a crucial pillar of the strategy.
Conference Highlights and Achievements:
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Financial Allocation: The minister was informed that Rs. 25 billion had been allocated to address the out-of-school children problem.
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Performance-Based Grants: Progress updates on Performance-Based Grants allocated to provinces through the ASPIRE program were discussed. The grants aim to elevate the educational landscape.
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E-Taleem Initiative: A comprehensive presentation on the E-Taleem initiative, an electronic education initiative designed to transform the education sector, was given. The initiative’s progress and its role in advancing digital education were highlighted.
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Educational Reforms: Ongoing reforms in the assessment system by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, including the notification of the syllabus for grades 9 to 12, were presented.
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Foundational Learning Hub: The establishment of a ‘Foundational Learning Hub’ in the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, set to launch a Foundational Literacy Policy in 2024, was discussed.
The conference served as a platform for education ministers and officials to discuss and strategize on key educational challenges, with a focus on fostering collaboration and addressing the issue of out-of-school children. The commitment to a uniform national strategy reflects the collective effort to enhance education accessibility and quality across Pakistan.
