ISLAMABAD, July 20 (APP): Federal Minister for Science and Technology Rana Tanveer Hussain Wednesday said the construction of National Science School building and allied facilities would start soon as the Punjab Government had offered land in Lahore free of cost.
He said this while addressing the launching ceremony of Orientation Session of National Talent Farming Scheme (STFS) here, a press release said.
Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Fazal Abbass Maken, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Chairman PSF and STFS Project Manager Hasnat Ahmed Qureshi were also present on the occasion.
The Ceremony was attended by first batch of STFS 300 students, STFS Management, and Heads of S&T organizations.
The Minister said that most important aspect of STFS was establishment of the “National Science School” that would be a boarding school having facilities on the pattern of Cadet Colleges for the continuous support and grooming of the capable students having aptitude towards science education.
After the establishment of the “National Science School” the
selection of the students will be made on regular basis from 8th Class which presently is being done after Matric.
Ahsan Iqbal said the scheme was part of Pakistan Vision 2025.
He said the dream of knowledge based economy could only be achieved when the human resource of a country was developed on scientific lines and there was an abundant skilled manpower in the country.
The skilled manpower and productive human resource could be produced through a purposeful science education both at secondary and tertiary levels, he maintained.
Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology Fazal Abbass Maken said this scheme was an endeavor to popularize science among the young generation.
He said this initiative of the government as part of Vision 2025 was also in consonance with the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (ST&I) 2012 which presents a roadmap of aims and objectives under the areas of socio-economic development, human resource development, R&D infrastructure, and promotion of ST&I in the society.
PSF Chairman Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf in a presentation gave an introduction of STFS, rational behind this scheme.
He said that number of researchers in Pakistan as compared to other countries was very low, which was main reason that the country was lagging behind in the field of Science and Technology as compared to other countries.
He also presented a survey report about science labs of schools in the country.
