Scholarships in private educational institutions: Punjab government sets up separate desk to implement 10 percent quota for the poor

The committee headed by Provincial Minister for Law & Education, Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan to improve system of provision of scholarships to deserving kids met here on Thursday to review the situation regarding implementation of 10 percent quota for poor but talented students in private educational institutions.
The Minister directed Additional Secretary Schools Education Punjab Rana Hassan Akhtar and Deputy Secretary Higher Education Punjab Tariq Bhatti to set up a separate desk for implementation of the special quota and powers should also be delegated to the desk for this purpose. He said that more than four millions boy and girl students were studying in private institutions in Punjab and due to effective implementation of 10 percent quota allocated by Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, at least 0.4 million talented but resource-less children should avail academic opportunities in quality institutions.
He said that Punjab government had also completed legislation in this regard. Rana Mashhood further said that 10 percent quota should also be allocated for deserving children in private chains of the colleges.
The meeting decided to evolve a mechanism for giving admission to deserving students on merit in their nearest private schools after passing a test on the pattern of NTS at every level under 10 percent quota. The meeting also reviewed the positive impact on the promotion of education due to Punjab Education Foundation and the establishment of Punjab Education Endowment Fund.
Director General LDA Ahad Khan Cheema told the meeting that there were 40 such sites available for the promotion of education in the housing schemes of LDA and various private housing colonies approved by LDA in Lahore City where new schools should be set up without any delay.
He said Chief Minister Punjab has decided that these 40 plots allocated for schools will be allotted to such well-reputed organisations running quality schools in private sector free of charge provided they allocate 30 percent quota in all newly-established private schools for such children whose parents cannot afford their educational expenses.