ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday underlined the need for increasing the education budget to 4 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to raise national literacy rate.
The President was talking to Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Baligh-ur-Rehma who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad. Makhdoom Adeel-ur-Rehman, Coordinator Prime Minister’s Youth Programme was also present in the meeting.
The President stressed upon public-private partnership, which is a non-formal model, to supplement public sector efforts in the education field to spread quality education across the country.
He said that a viable strategy needs to be evolved by Higher Education Commission (HEC) to meet the challenges posed by the youth bulge in Pakistan and emphasized on the need to promote volunteerism in educational institutions to encourage services in social sector.
The President commended Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training for his personal interest in preparation of national educational curriculum and legislation to make Quranic teachings part of curriculum.
He appreciated the Fee Reimbursement Scheme for deserving students under Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and said that such initiatives will not only encourage needy students to pursue their educational careers but also promote education in the country.
The President asked the Minister to expedite implementation of educational programmes for tangible results and assured of his full support and cooperation in this regard.
He called for removing all illegal encroachments on Quaid-e-Azam University’s land so that the university campus can be effectively used for educational purposes.
The Minister of State briefed the President about various educational initiatives of the government for quality human resource development and about matters relating to his Ministry.
