ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Engr Baligh Ur Rahman said on Wednesday that the federal government will continue to assist provinces as a role model for the development of the education sector in the country. Speaking at the three-day workshop on development of national curriculum framework, organised by the Ministry of Education, he said that the government was spending a hefty amount for the improvement of the education system in the provinces. He said that the provinces should be independent in education so that the sector could be developed. The minister urged the educational professionals who participated in the workshop to pay maximum attention on the characterisation of the students in the new curriculum. He also said that that Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) was regularly organising training sessions for the District Education Officers (DEO) in order to improve the education standards. Pakistan was established in the name of Islam and it was the responsibility of the masses to care for the rights of the minorities in all sects including education, he said. The reading of Quran would also be made compulsory from class one to five, while from class six to ten the translation of Quran would be taught. The translation of Quran was necessary to create harmony, tolerance, humanity and peace among the nation, the minister added. It is mentioned in the constitution of Pakistan to make the Quranic teachings compulsory in the educational curriculum, he said. He said that it is now up to the provinces whether they adopt it or not. He added that the federal government has implemented the teaching of Quran in the eighteen thousands non-formal schools in the country. The name of the writer for writing “Quran Tafseer” would be finalised with the consultation of the Ulema of different sects.