World Bank offers support to address challenges in education sector

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Education and Technical Training Shafqat Mahmood was called on by World Bank Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan who offered assistance in the promotion of education in Pakistan.

The education minister told the World Bank official and his delegation that Pakistan is currently facing various challenges in education sector and that the government is fully committed to resolve them.

He said the among the various challenges are out of school children, different streams or systems of education that are private Schools, government schools and then madrassahs.

There is also the challenge of providing quality education and removing discrimination in education system and last but not the least is a challenge of skill development, he added.

“We are working on making a comprehensive education policy that will address these challenges, will ensure quality education and will provide level playing field and equal opportunities to everyone,” said the federal minister.

“We will also introduce special program for street children and introducing one standard curriculum for entire country that have core compulsory subjects taught throughout the country is also on our agenda,” he added.

The education minister said that they may also replicate some of the reforms that were introduced in the education sector in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and had positive results.

He further said that although most powers and functions of education ministry have devolved to provinces after 18th amendment, but still the federal education ministry will try to take a lead role in introducing positive changes.

The federal minister informed the World Bank official that the federal education ministry will also be reorganised in such a way that will reflect their priorities in the education sector.

He further said that the main focus will also be on the skill and human development, vocational and technical training, and they are in the process of setting up skill universities in close liaison with all the chambers of commerce and other stakeholders.

The minister also suggested that the World Bank should provide support to Pakistan on skill development in Pakistan.

World Bank Country Director Patchamuthu Illangovan appreciated the steps the government intends to take for promotion of education and offered help and support in this regard.

He said that they are looking forward to work closely with the government of Pakistan for the progress and prosperity of the people and promotion of education in Pakistan.

He pointed out that the number of out of school children in Pakistan is a big problem and World Bank will support any effort to bring these children to schools. He said that their second aim is that Pakistan should develop national standards on education.

Regarding skill development, he said that they are carrying out a study which will determine the gap between the current education and skills and the future nature of jobs, and will be immensely beneficial for Pakistan too as they can work on providing training in those skills that can match the future job requirements.

Both the federal minister and World Bank country director agreed on keeping regular contact and coordination for addressing the challenges in education sector in Pakistan.