He expressed these views during a meeting with the Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan, Mr. Ignacio Artaza.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary Education, Arshad Mirza. The Minister welcomed the resident representative, UNDP and his delegation and said that Pakistan was currently facing various challenges in Education sector and that the Government was fully committed to resolve these challenges.
“We will appreciate the support of UNDP in this regard”, the minister added.
Shafqat Mahmood said that there were various potential sectors in which Ministry of Education and UNDP could work together.
Ministry of Education and Professional training is working on Skill Development and starting skill education from schools which is also an area of interest for UNDP.
The minister informed the resident representative of UNDP about the Education Ministry initiatives in the field of education.
Shafqat Mahmood said that education ministry was planning to introduce uniform education and curriculum system in order to inculcate and promote uniform national thought.
He said that National Curriculum Council was constituted and looking at the broad policy aspects of Uniform Curriculum while the Technical subcommittee of the National Curriculum Council that comprised of eminent education experts from Public and Private sectors were looking at the Technical aspects of the Uniform Curriculum.
“We want to design up to date uniform syllabus that is acceptable to everyone and we are taking all the provincial governments and other stakeholders on board”, he added.
The minister further said "We are reorganizing the education ministry and some of its attached departments to improve its efficiency and effectiveness and to avoid duplication and wastage of valuable resources."
Resident Representative UNDP, Ignacio Artaza appreciated the steps taken by the education ministry for promoting education & skill development and offered UNDP support.
He said that we were looking forward to work closely with the government of Pakistan in the field of Education, Skill and youth development.
Ignacio Artaza said "We are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning on various projects like Project of Institutional Reforms & SDGs and with the collaboration of Ministry of Planning can assist in the reorganization of the Education Ministry and its attached departments." Both, the Minister and Resident Representative UNDP, Ignacio Artaza agreed on keeping regular coordination for increased cooperation in education sector in Pakistan.