SIALKOT: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has stressed collective efforts for promotion of education to enhance the literacy rate.
Addressing an annual prize distribution ceremony at a school in Bhoth, Dr Firdous said there was an immediate need to root out illiteracy at grossroots level to bring about radical changes in every sphere of life.
She called for changing the education system and removing disparities to ensure even opportunities to all in the country.
The minister said illiteracy was the main hurdle in the development.
"After the 18th Amendment, the provision of education is the responsibility of provincial governments but the Punjab Government has failed to improve the education system. In fact, it is on the decline," she added.
Dr Firdous said that despite tall claims, the Punjab Government had failed to provide basic facilities like drinking water, boundary walls, furniture and washrooms in government schools.
The minister said "Education for All" was top priority of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the government was using all available resources for it.
Firdous urged the Punjab government to improve conditions and provide basic facilities in educational institutions, while ensuring quality education.
She said, "The private sector is making valuables services in expanding the sphere of education in rural and urban areas of the country. However, it is unfortunate that most private institutions are providing education to the privileged class and the poor are being deprived of it."
"Problems like security, negative attitude of parents and lack of transport are major hurdles in educating girls of far-off areas. There is a need for collective efforts for setting up maximum educational institutions in rural areas across the country for educating the poor and ignored segments of the society," she added. The Information Minister aid that there was an urgent need for changing the mindset of parents and weeding out gender discrimination for ensuring equal opportunities of education, as most parents preferred to provide maximum facilities to their sons as compared to daughters which was injustice.
"The establishment of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Girls Degree College in Kuba Chak is in doldrums because of the negative attitude of the Punjab Government," she said, adding that an IT campus would be set up in NA-111 for promoting information technology.
Later, the minister distributed certificates and shields among the students.
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