Speakers highlight importance of non-formal education

Introduction of non-formal education as effective education system for the promotion of peace and prosperity in the region and equipping every illiterate person with education is indispensable. These views were expressed by educationists and literacy experts from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Japan and other countries while addressing the regional conference arranged by Provincial Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education Department in collaboration with JICA, here on Thursday.
The speakers included Director Programme Unit Ministry of Education Afghanistan Allah Baz Jam, Country Director (BRAC) Bangladesh Muzaffar Uddin, Country Director Unesco Abdul H A Hakim, Secretary Literacy Dr Pervaiz Ahmed Khan, Project Advisor JICA (Japan) Ms Cheo Ohashe, literacy experts Iqbal ur Rehman, M Alam Taheem, Ms Shaheen Atiq-ur-Rehman, Hasim Kakar, Qazi Ehsan Ullah, Ms Nabat, Additional Secretary Literacy Nadeem Alam Butt, Abid Gul, Mehwish, Muhammad Usman Abbas Rasheed, Faisal Bari and others also provided the information and observation regarding literacy through multimedia briefing.
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Literacy and Non-Formal Basic Education, Rai Haider Ali Khan said that Punjab government is determined to implement various projects and programmes for the promotion of education through Literacy Department under educational vision of Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif.
He said that various programmes are being implemented for the provision of education and skill through non-formal education to the poor and source-less people of the backward areas through Literacy Department He said that for the capacity-building of teaching staff and ensuring effective mechanism of monitoring and training, programmes and experiences of foreign donors and literacy experts are being benefited and regional conference is also its part.
He emphasised upon delegates of NGOs engaged in literacy sector to cooperate with Literacy Department for the success of its projects for the promotion of literacy. Rai Haider Ali described regional conference as harbinger of success of literacy projects of the province. Secretary Literacy assured continuous holding of such conferences and seminars. Speakers appreciated the ongoing literacy projects and the activities of Literacy Department for the promotion of literacy in the province and expressed their views on the importance of non-formal education and experiences of other countries regarding literacy.