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ISLAMABAD, Jan 13 (APP):Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training, Wajiha Qamar, underscored the pivotal role of teachers in shaping the nation’s future and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening non-formal education across the country.
She was addressing the inaugural session of a five-day training workshop for 201 teachers of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, organized by the Directorate General of Non-Formal Education at the Federal College of Education, Islamabad.
Director General BECS, Hameed Khan Niazi, welcomed the chief guest and participants and briefed the gathering that the Basic Education initiative has been serving underprivileged segments of society for the past three decades, enabling millions of children to complete their foundational education and move forward in their academic journey. At present, around 10,000 children—mostly girls—are enrolled in 201 community schools operating in Azad Kashmir.
The workshop has been designed to equip teachers with modern teaching methodologies and enhance their professional skills. Educational materials have recently been provided to students after four years, while this training is being conducted after a gap of eight years to further improve teaching standards and school performance.
In her address, Wajiha Qamar lauded the efforts of the Directorate General of Non-Formal Education and BECS under the leadership of DG Hameed Niazi, emphasizing that such training initiatives are vital to align teachers with contemporary educational requirements.
“Teachers are our greatest asset. You have travelled from Azad Kashmir to Islamabad, and after a long interval, this training is being organized. We are committed to making such programs a regular feature and ensuring they continue every year,” she said.
She assured the participants that the government would provide continuous support, including timely provision of Teaching and Learning Material (TLM) for students. The minister also announced that an honorarium of at least Rs. 37,500 for teachers has been approved and will be implemented from the next financial year.
Qamar reiterated the government’s resolve that no child should be deprived of education. “We will strive to reach every child. This mission is a collective effort, and you, our teachers, are on the frontline,” she remarked, adding that her office would remain fully accessible to all educators.
She concluded by reaffirming that training programs would either be conducted in Islamabad or extended to Azad Kashmir to ensure sustained professional development of teachers and the spread of quality education to every corner of the region.