Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage, and Culture convened its second meeting today at the National Assembly Secretariat. Chaired by Dr. Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi, MNA, the session focused on the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training’s efforts in advancing educational and vocational training standards across Pakistan.
According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the Ministry provided an extensive briefing on its current initiatives, which include comprehensive curriculum reforms and efforts to expand educational accessibility. The Ministry’s approach emphasizes improving the quality of education, enhancing vocational training programs, and ensuring that educational advancements align with the nation’s development goals.
Chairman Dr. Lakhvi advocated for increased budgetary allocations to universities and underscored the committee’s commitment to supporting initiatives that aim to substantially enhance the educational landscape of Pakistan. He emphasized the necessity of equalizing educational opportunities, particularly spotlighting the disparities in facilities between schools in peripheral areas and those in more affluent sectors of Islamabad.
The meeting also addressed the contributions of non-governmental organizations in the educational sector. While acknowledging the positive impact of these collaborations, the committee stressed the need for sustainability and urged the Ministry to take a leading role in ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of educational programs.
Highlighting recent progress, the committee members lauded the Ministry’s efforts over the past four months, particularly in skill-building aligned with 21st-century needs, and improvements in educational infrastructure, including the establishment of IT labs. However, concerns were raised about the uneven quality of education and resource distribution between different regions.
The committee also reviewed several legislative proposals aimed at enhancing the educational framework, including bills to establish new institutes and a national examination board. These bills, including the notable “Nippon Institute of Advanced Sciences (NIAS) Bill 2024”, were deferred for further review, with additional input sought from the Law Ministry to address identified gaps.
The session concluded with a unanimous commitment from the committee members to foster initiatives that enhance educational quality and provide advanced professional training to all citizens, thereby contributing to national development and preparing students to be effective future contributors to Pakistan’s progress.