Islamabad (TDI): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday called for modernizing Pakistan’s education system to align with global standards.
He made these remarks while speaking at the launching ceremony of the Model Assessment Framework, organized by the Inter Board Coordination Commission (IBCC).
The minister outlined the government’s strategic vision to transform the country’s educational landscape. He also announced reforms in curriculum and assessment methodologies under the Vision 2025 initiative aimed at preparing the youth for global economic challenges.
“Our generation transitioned from slate to technology, and future generations will witness even more profound changes. To meet these challenges, our priority is to prepare our youth with the skills required to compete in the global economy,” he said.
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The minister stressed that teacher training is pivotal to achieving quality education, announcing plans to establish a state-of-the-art teacher training institute in Islamabad.
“Without investing in teacher training, quality education will remain a distant dream,” he remarked.
Ahsan called for a holistic overhaul of assessment methodologies to improve educational standards. He also announced the upcoming National Curriculum Summit, which will bring together top education experts to align the curriculum with contemporary global needs.
Pakistan Education District Index Report
Referring to the Pakistan Education District Index Report, Ahsan Iqbal expressed concern over the findings that none of the 134 districts surveyed meet the highest standards of educational quality. He stressed the importance of decentralizing authority to empower districts and foster innovation.
“Centralized control has hampered progress; provinces must share best practices and create healthy competition to drive improvements,” he urged.
The minister was critical of the cheating culture in the education sector and emphasized its negative impact on educational integrity.
“If Cambridge University can conduct transparent exams globally, why can’t we?” he questioned, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the examination process.
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He also highlighted the Five Es Framework as a cornerstone of the government’s education reform strategy, aimed at ensuring equitable access, enhanced quality, efficient governance, and empowered communities.
Ahsan Iqbal stressed the importance of fostering self-assessment skills among students and encouraged educational boards to adopt a culture of self-accountability.
“The time for complacency is over. If we do not declare an educational emergency, we risk falling behind in the global race,” he cautioned.
