By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: In a special meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government has decided to introduce a dress code for schoolteachers and obtain services of the Suthra Punjab programme to ensure cleanliness in schools.
A detailed briefing on school education was given during the meeting, where several key decisions were taken. It was agreed in principle to install CCTV cameras in schools, while a School Improvement Card will be introduced to facilitate the outsourcing process. Approval was also granted for Phase IV of outsourcing under the Punjab Public School Reorganisation Programme.
The meeting decided to introduce distance learning in schools for the first time in the province, along with the launch of audio-visual teaching methods. It is informed that by March, 140 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence would become functional.
According to the briefing, spoken English classes are currently being conducted in 344 schools for 42,614 students and 3,566 teachers, while the chief minister set a target of launching spoken classes for 500,000 students. The school meal programme is benefiting 1.137 million students in 13 districts.
Officials said that following the outsourcing of government schools, enrolment has recorded an increase of more than 800 per cent, with a 114pc rise after Phase I and a further 24pc increase after Phase II. Teachers’ strength also increased by 40pc in Phase I and 46pc in Phase II.
The briefing further stated that 866 new classrooms were built in 540 schools after outsourcing, while construction and repair work was carried out in thousands of classrooms. More than 2.7 million square feet of boundary walls were constructed or repaired, 5,067 toilets were built or renovated, and paint work was completed in 8,911 schools. Additionally, 160,450 new furniture sets were provided, along with the installation of 3,665 water tanks and 18,380 water coolers.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said her government aimed to ensure that every child could receive quality education in public schools and move forward in life with confidence. She added that the standard of government schools would be improved to such an extent that parents would prefer enrolling their children there, stressing that improving the condition of every public school in Punjab was her responsibility.
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