Moalims

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Education Balighur Rehman has assured that the government will provide all possible support to Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) for undertaking the childhood education programme.

Addressing a ceremony held on Thursday, he appreciated the initiatives recently taken by the AIOU for improving and expanding quality education, particularly for the ignored and un-attended section of the society.

Allama Iqbal Open University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the PARWAAN, a national centre of excellence for promoting early childhood education and development. AIOU Vice Chancellor Dr Shahid Siddiqui inked the MoU on behalf of AIOU, while PARWAAN was represented by its President Mehnaz Aziz.

Under the MoU, PARWAAN will collaborate with the AIOU in development of course material, training of faculty and establishment of a resource centre at the university for launching a diploma course for teachers’ training on childhood education.

The state minister said the government would work closely with the AIOU for educational development of children, promoting them as good human-resource and valuable asset of the country.

The AIOU, he added has been making worth-while contribution to educational development of on-job people, particularly the females, hoping that it will also come forward, playing its major role as well in promoting skilled-based and vocational programmes.

Speaking about the importance of online programmes at the higher education level, he hoped the university, after achieving excellence in distance learning system, will also launch a massive online courses for the benefit of the general public. The government, he said will stand by the AIOU for providing an environment to achieve its future targets in the educational sector.

The minister also highlighted the government’s recent steps for promotion of higher education in the country, stating that the budget allocation to the HEC is being increased to Rs 80 billions which is almost double, as compared to 2012-2013 budget.

Dr Siddiqui said that the AIOU was laying greater focus on quality education that could influence the society for its healthy growth.

He also spoke about the initiatives being taken by the university for the betterment of ignored section of the society. They, he added are actively engaged in expanding educational network for providing free education to prisoners in various jails of the country.

The university, he said was working on an open school programme for the benefit of the children, bringing them into educational net and for their proper brought up. He thanked the minister for his encouragement and support for making the new academic initiatives successful and bringing qualitative improvement in the university’s overall working.

News Reference