Senate body for promoting value-oriented education
Saturday, September 27, 2008
ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Education has called upon the government to appoint the federal minister for education without further delay so that matters in this vital sector could be streamlined.
The committee, which met at the Parliament House on Friday under the chairpersonship of Senator Mrs Razina Alam Khan, also urged the government to accord priority to providing better training to the teachers and to undertake constant periodic review of the curriculum in order to keep pace with the developments being made in the rest of the world.
While endorsing the plea for merit-based recruitment of teachers, the committee called for enhancement of their salary structure and social status.
Merit-based recruitment of teachers must be ensured and ways and means be explored to find dedicated teachers as ëonly inspired teachers could produce inspired studentsí.
It directed the federal education ministry to accord the highest priority to the training of teachers at all levels. The committee took strong exception to political interference in the recruitment/appointment and posting and transfers of teachers, particularly in the provinces and remote areas of the country. It called for an immediate end to this unhealthy practice, which is undermining the cause of education in the country.
The committee observed that the teachersí training should be a continuous process as "illiterate nations cannot make any progress in the present day world".
The committee also asked the federal education ministry to prepare a new draft of education policy in a manner that it must address the core national problems. It said that our education system must be value-oriented and its purpose should be enlightenment of hearts and minds.
A number of members of the committee expressed reservations on the new system of starting the education year from September every year, apprehending that the new system may provide very short time to the students to complete their courses of study.
It urged that due considerations be made for the weather conditions, harvesting of crops etc and other ground realities to make new policy more realistic and effective.
The committee hoped that the issue of appointment of the new DG, FDE would be resolved amicably and only the best and most suitable candidate be offered the slot.
Earlier, Secretary Education Jahangir Bashar apprised the committee of the broad contours of the teachersí training programme being launched by the education ministry in the federal capital and various provinces.
The News
Bomb scare at Faisal Mosque
Saturday, September 27, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Police and a bomb disposal squad were called to Faisal Mosque on Friday night after a bomb was reported to have been planted in the main prayer hall. Security officials cordoned off the area and vacated the mosque. The main roads leading to the mosque were closed and explosives experts carried out a thorough search of the area. The fire brigade and ambulances also attended the scene as police searched the mosque and the nearby International Islamic University. No explosives were found. Those staying in the Faisal Mosque as part of the ten-day ‘Aitekaf’ practice were also evacuated. The scare comes a day after police and security officials evacuated and searched Islamabad’s Benazir Bhutto Airport following reports a suicide bomber had entered the area.
China, Pakistan to enhance military ties
Saturday, September 27, 2008
BEIJING: Pakistan is ready to work with China to enhance bilateral strategic co-operation, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani said on Friday.
General Kayani was talking to Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, the Xinhua news agency reported. General Kayani said Pakistan would continue to push forward bilateral ties and relationship between the armed forces of the two countries.
Liang said China and Pakistan enjoyed an all-weather friendship, “China attaches great importance to its friendship with Pakistan, and will further strengthen Sino-Pakistani ties and relations between the two armed forces.”
Pakistan-US clash not seen escalating
Saturday, September 27, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Neither the United States nor Pakistan will let a clash between their forces on the Afghan border escalate, as both countries depend on each other, analysts said on Friday. “Don’t expect Pakistan and the US to go to war, that is not likely to happen,” said political analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi. “Pakistan needs the United States for economic reasons and the US needs Pakistan for conducting its war on terror in Afghanistan. Both recognise the need, but both are also trying to maximise their gain by building pressure on the other,” he added.
Daily Times