ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training, led by Acting Chairperson Ms. Mahtab Akbar Rashdi, convened in Islamabad to tackle pressing issues in the education sector, including drug use in schools, vocational training, and governance problems at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology. The committee emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to ensure safe educational environments and address administrative challenges in universities.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the committee expressed serious concerns over narcotics in educational institutions, highlighting the importance of proactive measures and coordinated operations with the Anti-Narcotics Force and police. The committee stressed that educational institutions need to adopt comprehensive strategies to prevent drug distribution on campuses.

The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission reported on the retrieval of land from the Haza institute, intended for vocational training for employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia. The committee was informed of ongoing discussions to revise agreements for enhanced transparency and accountability.

The National Commission for Human Development launched a campaign to enroll out-of-school children in Islamabad, identifying 26,000 children and enrolling 18,000 in non-formal education centers. The committee noted the absence of a clear transition strategy for these children to mainstream schools and urged for a monitoring mechanism.

Concerns were raised regarding the implementation of the NCLEX Nursing Training Programme, focusing on selection transparency and regional representation. The committee called for the Pakistan Nursing and Midwifery Council to review the programme’s design and fairness.

The Higher Education Commission was tasked with expediting the resolution of governance issues at the Federal Urdu University. The committee urged the HEC to implement previous recommendations and provide a comprehensive report within two months to address the university’s challenges effectively. The meeting concluded with participation from various Members of National Assembly and relevant officials.