Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Muhammad Balighur Rehman on Tuesday said education budget has been increased showing government’s seriousness for raising academic standards in the country.

Speaking as a chief guest at a consultative meeting on sustainable development goals (SDG), the minister said 422 schools of the capital have been updated with qualified faculty staff, latest labs and washrooms.

The moot was jointly organised in collaboration with United Nations Educational and Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

Balighur Rehman said that the education budget of the four provinces have also been increased aiming to educate each and every child of the country. The government is committed to resolve education related issues by revolutionising the sector, he added.

Baligh said the education ministry is working on all its programmes to achieve the targets of sustainable development goals.

He said that the ministry has taken a number of steps to ensure access, equity, quality and good governance in education with special emphasis on higher education, technical and vocational education and formal as well as non-formal basic education.

He further said that it is difficult to survive without education adding, “we have issues on the quality of education and trained teaching staff but we are going to solve them on priority.”

The minister said despite all challenges like economy, terrorism, sit-ins, and ongoing operation against the terrorists, the government is tackling the issue within limited resources.

He appreciated the efforts of UNESCO, UNICEF and other organisations working for the promotion and development of education in Pakistan

He assured that they would achieve the target of sustainable development goals (SDG’s) in due course of time.

He informed that the forth target of SDG’s is about the quality of education which is our main focus area. The drop out ratio is still quite high, he said adding, the federal government in collaboration with provincial governments are striving to enroll children in schools.

“We have initiated a committee in collaboration with all the provinces to achieve the goals related to the education in the country”, he stated.

Replying to a query, he said all stake holders including, politicians, security forces and general public are on one page to curb the terrorism in the country.