ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (APP):President Dr Arif Alvi Tuesday stressed upon the need to introduce uniform educational system in the country by removing differences and disparities among the students belonging to different segments of society.
He said the world was fast changing by virtue of the latest means of technology and the nation should be ready to brace the revolution knocking at the doors and by paving ways for the modern teaching and learning mechanism practiced worldwide.
The president was addressing 34th medal and prize distribution ceremony of the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE) here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood, Parliamentary Secretary Wajiha Akram and FBISE Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik were also present on the occasion.
The president said, “It is the responsibility of the state to provide equal platforms to all segments of society in the education sector and job opportunities.”
He regretted that three different educational systems had been in place in the country, which should be merged having uniform syllabus so as to provide future leadership to the country with one frame of mind.
“The country has to take a decision in this regard and we must be ready to avail the opportunities,” he added.
The president noted that worldwide, the new examination system was also being introduced with inclusion of most modern techniques.
He said under the modern techniques, it was also suggested that students could be imparted early education in their mother tongues.
He said the use of modern gadgets like i-pads, laptops and the artificial intelligence could yield huge results by increasing students’ talents manifold and referred to significance of the open source knowledge.
At the same time, the president underlined that basic training to students, including the vital human behaviour, feelings and sentiments, could only be imparted by the humans as the machines had no such capabilities.
The president also expressed his pleasure and satisfaction that women were excelling in the educational and research fields, and emphasized upon creation of ample opportunities for both genders for the national progress and development.
He also referred to the saying of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in which he had stressed upon creation of equal opportunities for the womenfolk in all fields for the national development.
The president also congratulated the successful students, their parents and teachers.
Later, Dr Alvi gave away prizes to the top position holders of FBISE Examination 2018 in different disciplines.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mehmood said they were making efforts to synchronize the examination time tables of about 28 boards working across the country and bringing uniformity in the admission dates of all the universities.
He said a National Curriculum Council was set over the introduction of uniform educational curriculum throughout the country.
He said 58 per cent literacy rate was not enough. The ministry was working upon the latest and exact literacy rate data gathering, he added.
He said since its independence, the country’s literacy rate offered a food for thought as there were still about 20 million children out of school. A task force was set up in that connection, which would come up with a comprehensive plan. A pilot project to enroll such children would be launched in Islamabad and later it would be replicated across the country, he added.
The minister also appreciated the federal board for setting up a precedent as symbol of excellence.
FBISE Chairman Dr Ikram Ali Malik also highlighted the overall performance and achievements of the board in ensuring quality examination system and facilitating the public.
A total of 27 position holders were awarded medals, cash prizes and merit certificates. The distinction holders, who were awarded gold medals (1st position), included Arooj Khan (Science group), Summaya Adil (Humanities group), Hammad Saleem (pre-medical group), Muhammad Ahmed Mansoor (pre-engineering group), Aimen Amir (science general group), Saniyya Iman (Humanities group) and Bisma Anwar (Commerce group). While second and third position holders were also awarded medals.
