Latest news with #RanaSikandarHayat
Arab News
a day ago
- Climate
- Arab News
Pakistan's Punjab extends summer break for schools until Aug. 31
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's most populous Punjab province has extended summer vacations for all private and public schools till Aug. 31, the provincial government said on Thursday. While the reason for the decision was not explicitly mentioned by authorities, it comes amid intense monsoon showers that have flooded several Punjab cities in recent weeks. The province has reported the highest number of deaths at 164 and 580 injuries since the rains first began on June 26, according to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The rains and floods have also caused widespread destruction of homes and swept away livestock and crops. 'It is hereby notified that summer vacations in all public and private schools in province of Punjab are extended w.e.f (with effect from) Aug. 14 to Aug. 31, 2025,' the Punjab School Education Department said in a notification. 'All schools (public and private) shall reopen on Monday, Sep. 1, 2025 resuming a full/normal week for all classes.' The decision marks a change in the academic calendar of schools which were previously scheduled to open on Aug 14. Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat also confirmed the decision in a post on X, but did not mention the reason either. Pakistan has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change. The Punjab government also declared an early summer break in late May for all public and private schools due to a prolonged heatwave across the province.
Business Recorder
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Maryam orders launch of innovative projects to promote education
LAHORE 'If you study, you will grow,' said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif while directing the authorities concerned to start 'School on Wheels', 'Library on Wheels' and 'Mobile Library' projects for the promotion of education in the province. She said: 'School on Wheels will provide children in remote and difficult areas with the jewel of education. It will be built in an electric rickshaw; solar panels will be installed on the roof of rickshaw.' Teachers in 'School on Wheels' will install folding chairs under an umbrella-like canopy in a street, neighbourhood or town. Books will also be provided to children studying in School on Wheels. The Chief Minister said: 'School on Wheels will also have painting equipment for the interest of young children. Various educational toys will also be kept in 'School on Wheels' for the interest of young children.' She gave in-principle approval for the School on Wheels School Education. The School Education Department will also launch a 'Library on Wheels' project for children, which will go to different areas and provide opportunities for children to read books. Through 'Library on Wheels', children will also be provided with books other than the curriculum. It will be set up in a minivan decorated with cartoons. 'Library on Wheels' can be stationed in any field, ground or open space.' Maryam Nawaz Sharif reiterated: 'If you read, you will grow.' She added a mobile library project will also be launched. Chairs and tables will be available for children to sit in the mobile library located inside a latest bus. In addition to Urdu, English and science books, magazines will also be kept in the mobile library. Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat gave a detailed briefing about School on Wheels, Library on Wheels and other projects. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
CM to introduce school van/bus service, ‘On-Wheel Montessori School'
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting regarding School Education Department in which outsourced schools, School Meal Programme and other projects were reviewed. In the meeting, it was decided to give 'School of the Month' award for the first time on the basis of discipline, classroom, lab and quality of education and 'Teacher of the Month' award for best performance. The Chief Minister directed to take steps with regard to launching 'On-Wheel Montessori School' project. The meeting also decided to introduce school van/bus service in government schools for the first time across Punjab. The CM sought a comprehensive plan for the first regular school bus service. Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat gave a detailed briefing to the participants regarding the School Education Department. It was informed in the briefing that excellent results are being achieved in outsourcing schools in Punjab. Student enrolment has increased by 99 percent and the number of teachers by 114 percent. Avenues of decent employment opportunities for more than 60,000 have opened for the educated youth. It was also informed in the meeting that the Punjab School Education Department has set a record for the world's largest successful public-private partnership. Outsourcing government schools has increased enrolment by 1.3 million in just 16 months. Another 10,500 schools will be outsourced in a year. It was further informed in the briefing that 40,000 applications were received for outsourcing 5,700 government schools in the first phase. The target of improving 80 percent infrastructure in outsourced schools has been achieved. After outsourcing government schools, the number of students increased by 453,000 in a few months. The number of teachers in outsourced schools increased from 8,000 to 17,196. 413 new classrooms, renovation of 5,018 classrooms, and roof repairs of 2,887 rooms were completed in outsourced schools. 254538 square meters of boundary walls were also built in outsourced government schools. More than 50 outsourced schools were shifted to solar energy instead of conventional electricity. About 1643 water tanks, 5830 water coolers and 9303 new blackboards were installed in outsourced schools. It was further informed in the briefing that children will get midday meal under self-help basis in various outsourced schools including Faisalabad. About 70977 furniture sets have been provided for students in outsourced schools. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif started successful pilot project of Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), Education Tech Schools. She directed to launch Education Tech Schools in villages as well. The pilot project for English conversation is on going successfully. Under the programme, 3 lakh children will gain proficiency in English conversation under IELTS Standard-4 in 6 months. 10,000 classrooms have been prepared for Early Childhood Education in every district of Punjab. The Chief Minister directed to increase the number of children in the Nawaz Sharif Center of Excellence from 240 to 1,500. The meeting agreed to start School Meal Program in the districts of Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali and Bahawalnagar. On this occasion, the proposal to provide energy bars, biscuits and other items to children besides milk was reviewed. The meeting set a target of constructing classrooms in government schools across Punjab by the end of this year. More than 400 toilet blocks will be completed in girls' schools. Google training for children and teachers is successfully underway. The Chief Minister directed to build 6,000 science, technology, engineering, mathematics and other labs across Punjab. She expressed satisfaction over rationalization in understaffed and overstaffed schools. She underscored that imparting quality teacher training is essential for ensuring the quality of education. The entrances to schools should be improved on a uniform pattern across Punjab. She vowed that we intend to improve the quality of government schools much better than good private schools in Punjab. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Province-wide govt school transport promised
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced plans to launch a van service for government schools and an 'on-wheel Montessori schools' project across the province. Presiding over a meeting of the school education department on Wednesday, the chief minister directed the officials concerned to prepare a comprehensive plan for the province's first regular school transport service aimed at facilitating access to education for children in remote areas. It was decided that school and teacher of the month awards would be introduced, based on discipline, classroom performance, laboratory standards and the overall quality of education. Giving a briefing on departmental initiatives, Punjab School Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said a 99 per cent increase in student enrolment and 114% in teaching staff had been achieved through the school outsourcing model. He said over 60,000 employment opportunities had been created for educated youth as part of the initiative. The minister said Punjab now holds the record for the largest public-private partnership in education globally, with 1.3 million additional students enrolled through outsourcing within 16 months. Outsourcing of another 10,500 schools is planned in the next year. The first phase saw 40,000 applications for 5,700 government schools. He said significant infrastructure improvements had been made in outsourced schools, including the construction of 413 classrooms, renovation of over 5,000 and repair of 2,887 roofs. Over 254,000 square metres of boundary walls have been constructed and more than 50 schools converted to solar energy. Facilities such as 1,643 water tanks and 5,830 coolers, and 9,303 new blackboards have also been provided. The participants of the meeting were informed that in select districts, including Faisalabad, children in outsourced schools were receiving mid-day meals under a self-help model. Additionally, 70,977 furniture sets have been delivered to improve the classrooms. CM Maryam Nawaz also launched the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) Tech Schools as a pilot project and issued directives that similar institutions be set up in rural areas. Am English Conversation Programme, aligned with IELTS Standard-4, is under way to benefit 300,000 students within six months. So far, 10,000 classrooms for early childhood education have been prepared across Punjab. The chief minister also ordered expansion of the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence, increasing its intake from 240 to 1,500 students. The School Meal Programme is set to begin in Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Lodhran, Bhakkar, Mianwali and Bahawalnagar, with proposals to include energy bars, milk, biscuits and other nutritious items under review. The meeting approved a target to construct additional classrooms by the end of the year and complete over 400 toilet blocks in girls' schools. Other initiatives include ongoing Google training for students and teachers, plans to build 6,000 STEM and science labs, and 'rationalisation' of school staffing. CM Maryam Nawaz emphasised the need for quality teacher training and issued instructions that school entrances across Punjab be standardised. She said, "We aim to make our government schools better than even the best private institutions in Punjab."
Business Recorder
13-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Maryam using provincial resources to complete all projects: Azma
LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is completing all developmental projects using provincial resources, with no federal project currently ongoing in Punjab. 'All development work is being carried out using the provincial budget,' she said, while addressing a joint press conference with Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, here at DGPR on Thursday. Azma said the Punjab government had set a new precedent with exemplary cleanliness arrangements during Eid, which had been widely appreciated by the public. She announced that Punjab's annual budget would be presented in the Provincial Assembly on June 16. Making an important announcement, she said that the Chief Minister of Punjab had rejected any proposal for new taxes, and the upcoming budget would be tax-free. In order to expand the tax net, those who previously evaded taxes would now be brought into the system to increase state resources, she clarified. Praising the Chief Minister's initiatives, Azma Bokhari said 'her effective actions are causing envy in several circles.' She added that the Chief Minister was utilising all provincial resources to complete developmental projects, aiming for equal progress in all provinces so that every citizen can benefit. Azma Bokhari maintained that 'Gandapur is trying to become a cheap Maula Jatt, and that even Aleema Baji herself says they don't want to come to Islamabad, so they should consult their advisers before making any statements.' She further stated that the federal budget attempted to provide relief to the people, and due to the strict IMF programme, the federal government presented a balanced budget, while Punjab's tax-free budget will be presented on June 16. Azma criticized the Sindh government, saying 'they don't do their own work but express their frustration at Punjab.' She remarked that the Karachi Mayor hadn't even managed to lift garbage yet. Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat stated that Punjab has increased the education development budget by a record 400 percent, raising it from Rs 32 billion to Rs 110 billion. Similarly, the higher education budget was also being increased by up to 500 percent, he said. He said 'Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz believes education should have no boundaries, yet the KP government is showing hostility to students by instructing their Higher Education Department not to cooperate with students. If Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot provide laptops and scholarships to its students, it should at least allow them to receive support from other provinces,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
