Federal Ministry of Education urged United Nations Development Programme to extend its support to overcome the challenges of education sector in Pakistan. This was expressed by Shafqat Mahmood, Federal Minister for Education & Professional Training during a Meeting with Ignacio Artaza, Representative of UNDP in Pakistan. The meeting was also attended by Arshad Mirza, Federal Secretary Education.
Shafqat Mahmood further said that Pakistan was currently facing various challenges in education sector and that the government was fully committed to resolve these challenges. There are 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 task force on Skill Development has finalized its recommendations and we are now moving into the implementation phase of this and would very much like the technical support of UNDP. He also informed that about Education Ministry initiatives to introduce uniform education and curriculum system in order to inculcate and promote uniform national thought. National Curriculum Council is constituted and is looking at the broad policy aspects of Uniform Curriculum while the Technical subcommittee of the National Curriculum Council that comprise of eminent education experts from Public and Private sectors are looking at the Technical aspects of the Uniform Curriculum. He further said that 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. The assistance of UNDP would be appreciated in this regard.
Ignacio Artaza appreciated the steps taken by the Education Ministry for promotion of Education & Skill Development and offered UNDP support. UNDP is looking forward to work closely with the government of Pakistan in the field of Education, Skill and youth development.
Arshad Mirza said that we are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning on various projects like Project of Institutional Reforms and SDGs and with the collaboration of Ministry of Planning can assist in the reorganization of the Education Ministry and its attached departments.
