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Capital set to introduce educational reforms

Capital set to introduce educational reforms

Express Tribune28-03-2025

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have signed three separate agreements to introduce educational reforms, vocational training, and environmental protection in the federal capital to equip students with the skills required to meet the demands of the 21st century.
The initiatives were launched in the presence of CDA Chairman, Muhammad Ali Randhawa, and Federal Secretary for Education and Vocational Training, Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani. As part of the first agreement, the CDA Model School will be upgraded to a state-of-the-art educational institution. The school will feature modern facilities, including an IT park, robotics lab, AI room, and Google classroom.
The physical infrastructure will be improved with new classrooms, libraries, sports facilities, and a dispensary. A cultural room will also be established to promote cultural education. A second agreement focuses on providing vocational training to young individuals aged 18-45 from communities near the Margalla Hills National Park.
Under this programme, skills training in areas such as sewing, electrical work, plumbing, and IT will be offered through E-Rozgar laboratories. The CDA will play an active role in providing job opportunities to programme participants. The third agreement involves a large-scale tree plantation campaign in educational institutions under the Islamabad Urban Forest Initiative.
The authority will provide plants, necessary tools, and technical expertise, while the FDE will oversee implementation and maintenance. A unique reward system has also been introduced, where students participating in the tree plantation campaign will receive additional educational credits and certificates in recognition of their environmental services.
Randhawa stressed the importance of these initiatives in bringing about positive change, stating that this partnership reflects their commitment to building a modern, skilled, and green Islamabad. He said that investing in the educational infrastructure will lay the foundation for a prosperous and sustainable capital city. The vocational programmes will equip youth with employable skills, while environmental initiatives will foster a new generation of environmentally conscious citizens.
Federal Secretary for Education Mohiuddin Ahmed Wani talked about the importance of cooperation between the two institutions, noting that the MoUs reflect a vision for a modern and comprehensive educational system. The initiatives aim to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century, including climate change.

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