[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed on Tuesday that all resources and efforts should be used to introduce modern modes of education, including digitisation initiatives, in addition to providing teachers with the most up-to-date training.
He was speaking at the launch of the ‘Teleschool Pakistan App, Google for Education, and Digital Continuous Professional Development’ initiative, which aims to further revolutionise Pakistan’s formal education medium.
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Teleschool Pakistan is a mobile application developed by the Ministry of Federal Education to provide students of all grades with free online education.
In his remarks at the ceremony, the prime minister lamented that teacher training in the country was inadequate, citing his own experience in Punjab province.
During his tenure as chief minister, he said he directed steps to improve the quality of about 40 training centres in the province.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif inaugurates Teleschool Pakistan mobile phone application (21.3.23). pic.twitter.com/REzFbKFI7O
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) March 21, 2023
The prime minister urged the Minister of Federal Education to develop a mechanism to improve the quality of teacher training in consultation with provincial governments.
Referring to the importance of modern technology in education, he stated that if they wanted to provide the young generations with the most up-to-date education, they would have to provide them with laptops and other related devices, so that the nation’s future builders could become acquainted with the new modes of education.
He stated that 100,000 laptops would be distributed to high achievers across the country, implying that similar initiatives would be implemented.
According to the prime minister, the vocational training programme should be carried out in collaboration with provincial governments and the private sector.
Instead of investing in brick and mortar, he believes that they should invest in young students by providing them with technical and skill training.
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The prime minister emphasised the importance of students receiving direct training from the private sector. The best institutions in the private sector should be hired in a transparent manner, and proper training should be provided to each student.
The prime minister stated that they would also establish a network of Danish schools in remote areas of Balochistan, which would require significant investment.
He expressed confidence that providing quality education to students in remote areas of the province would help them catch up with students from other parts of the country.
He also emphasised the importance of meeting the educational needs of orphan children.
Speaking on the occasion, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training, stated that the quality of education was linked to the focus on teacher training.
He added that the covid-19 pandemic had given the world the opportunity to adopt distance school learning methods.
The minister stated that six channels would be launched as part of the initiative, which would be a watershed moment in the country’s education system.
He stated that there were approximately 22.8 million out-of-school children in Pakistan, and that resources were insufficient to meet their needs, adding that the recent initiatives would be beneficial in meeting the needs of these children.
He emphasised the importance of youth technical and skill development, noting that the country’s universities were not among the world’s top leading educational institutions, which was unfortunate.
During the ceremony, representatives from development partners, parliamentarians, and relevant officials were present.
Waseem Ajmal, Secretary of Education and Professional Training, provided an overview of the initiative.
He stated that digital content would be created and made available on various mediums. Six digital channels for various ages were being launched.
He stated that 6,000 high-quality videos were created following the Covid pandemic.
Teachers would also receive proper training as part of the professional development initiative, he said.
He added that 150 chromebooks were being distributed to students as part of the initiative, and that another 6,000 chromebooks would be distributed soon.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
