Sir: One respects and appreciates the intentions of Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif on improving and upgrading the education system in Punjab. However, the steps and the direction he takes in this regard seem superficial and more tilted toward political gimmickry. The youth being the largest segment of the population automatically gets extra attention and planning but doing so by taking the midway approach leaves many things unattended. A holistic approach to education is required if anything good is intended toward this end. Closing down ghost schools, merging schools where needed, improving the environment and situation of schools in small towns and localities, hiring skilled teachers, giving proper incentives and raising the salaries of teachers to actually make them look and feel noble, are a few areas that need immediate attention. Dispensing laptops, building Daanish Schools and putting a few computers here and there would not help solve the education crisis; it requires a piecemeal approach with a strong education policy supporting it. We have yet to define the objectives of education in this country. What do we need, a civilised nation or a bunch of people having degrees that could help them find a good job? TABASSUM ZAHOOR Lahore