LAHORE: Khadim-e-Punjab Next Generation Schools Initiative was inaugurated on Monday at Government Shohda-e-Army Public Girls High School, Model Town. Minister for School Education Punjab Rana Mashood was chief guest on occasion whereas Secretary Schools Allah Baksh Malik was also present on occasion. According to Khadim-e-Punjab Next Generation Schools Initiative, the school has been upgraded with several digital technological facilities that include an information technology lab, science lab, health lab, art room, early childhood education class rooms and food lab. While addressing the ceremony, Rana Mashood Ahmad said that the use of digital technology had brought success in educational reforms. “These students access world class education which will provide better youth leadership,” he said. The minister further said that through all these reforms, the capacity building of students of pre-KG, KG and grade one would be enhanced. In the first phase of this programme, the modern labs will be introduced in 300 schools. Rana further said that this programme would not only provide quality education, but would also enhance teacher’s capabilities. He went on saying that in the current year, Punjab government had allocated Rs 345 billion for education. “Whereas 90,000 children of brick kiln workers are also being imparted education. Punjab is the only province where education is being provided using smart boards. Besides, School Education Department (SED) is also working on provision of basic facilities including boundary walls, electricity, clean drinking water, furniture and toilets in government sector schools across the province,” he siad. Schools Secretary Allah Buksh Malik said that 11,000 class rooms for early childhood education and 8,000 IT labs had already been constructed by SED. “Whereas, technical and vocational education facilities are being provided in more than 1,100 schools,” he said, adding that state of the art Danish Schools were also providing quality education to poor and underprivileged students. The inauguration ceremony was also attended by Chief Secretary Captain (r) Zahid Saeed, Dr Amjad Saqib, Director General Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) Kamran Lashari, Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) Dr Umar Saif and Special Secretary Schools Rana Hassan Akhtar. TEVTA: Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh urged the local industrialists and District Board of Management (BoM) to play a supervisory role for starting of new courses as per their local demand industry. While addressing members of BoM of various districts, including Layyah, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan, the TEVTA chairman said that BoM comprised of members from local industrialists and office bearers of chamber of commerce and industries. “These members know much better about the needs of the local industry therefore they should not only play supervisory role, but they must also identify new trades where courses should be started which can provide immediate and good salaried jobs, he added. Irfan Qaiser Sheikh further explained that now things were changing and so the demands of courses were also changing. “Therefore, it has been decided to shift courses from industrial demand towards services and self-employment. Now the industry does not have the capacity to absorb the 200,000 students per annum which pass out of TEVTA,” he said. “In such a situation, TEVTA has started focussing on several courses for information technology (IT), driving, call center and others. Response of students about these courses has been excellent. They provide the students immediate jobs and handsome salary packages,” he added. For this purpose, TEVTA also started courses with Microsoft, Oracle and TRG. Qaiser said that now several companies were offering Rs 20 to 30 thousand on completing TEVTA’s several short courses. Irfan Qaiser further said that TEVTA was also working on new courses, including freelancing and e-rozgar where youngsters would be able to earn by staying at their homes. “Millions of people are earning through these mediums,” he said. Talking about the liaison between District BoM and TEVTA, he said that they were part of TEVTA and they should play the role of supervisors at district level. They should not only identify problems, but also focus on new skills, he said. Published in Daily Times, January 16th 2018.