MIRPUR (AJK), (APP): The concluding session of around
200 young leaders of Mirpur division resolved to collectively work
to introduce the immediate reforms in the educational system and
introduction of strict meritocracy in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Representatives of the major political parties, civil society,
students, journalists and lawyer attended a policy dialogue-cum-
seminar titled `Reviving Public Education System in AJK – A
Citizens’ Perspective’ organized by Center for Peace, Development
and Reforms (CPDR),here late Thursday.
Addressing the seminar, key speakers including AJK Minister
for Higher Education, Matloob Inqilabi, Deputy Leader of Opposition
AJK Legislative Assembly and PML-N AJK leader Ch. Tariq Farooq, Vice
Chancellor MUST Prof. Habib-ur-Rehman, Vice President Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) AJK Zulfiqar Abbasi, Executive Director CPDR
Ershad Mahmud, Dr. Waqas Ali, Ms. FizaAnayat and senior journalist
Altaf Hamid Rao underscored the necessity of collective efforts by
the government, political parties and civil society to revive the
public sector education system to provide equal opportunities to the
citizens of the region.
While addressing the seminar, Minister for Higher Education
Muhammad Matloob Inqilabi said that the interim constitution act of
AJK itself is a hurdle in decision-making process. “We have
introduced several reforms in education sector but unless the
government of AJK has more constitutional and financial autonomy,
none of elected governments can bring any significant change in any
sector including the education”, he stated.
Other speakers said that the curriculum being taught in the
state is not harmonious with contemporary needs. All government,
political parties and civil society need to join hands to make
public and private educational system accountable and transparent.
A consensus statement was also issued which demands the
enforcement of uniformed syllabus and educational system in the
country including AJK to benefit the off-springs of all classes of
the society equally. It also says that the teachers in all
educational institutions in AJK must be inducted on the basis of set
criteria.
The seminar participants also called for conducting baseline
survey of education statistics for inking a comprehensive education
policy so that a well-informed policy could be designed to cater
needs of young people in AJK.
The seminar also suggested for managing regular international
scholarships and career counselling for the students of AJK under
the spirit of producing the quality future architects of the nation.