PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on Wednesday said his government was striving to bring academic standards at public sector schools on a par with those at reputed private schools by ensuring better facilities and regulatory arrangements.

He said this while inaugurating a special enrolment campaign at the Government Syed Hasnain Sharif Shaheed Higher Secondary School here.

The chief minister inaugurate d the campaign by enrolling an out-of-school girl, said a statement issued here.

Education minister Atif Khan, mineral development minister Ziaullah Afridi, education department officials, representatives of the national and international non-government organisations, and teachers and students attended the ceremony.

Khattak said school enrolment campaign was meant to bring poor children to educational institutions so that they could get quality education for free of charge to compete with children of the elite.

He said in the past, political interference in education department and nepotism in appointments of teachers and officials ruined the entire educational system.

The chief minister, however, said during his government, the practices of political interference and favouritism had been fully checked to the extent that even the chief executive of the province was unable to make any transfer or appointment in any government department.

He said educational institutions and various other public service entities were being made autonomous for which a comprehensive and secured legislation was in the pipeline.

Khattak said due to newly devised monitoring system of the schools, attendance of teachers and students had reached to 95 percent from merely 40-50 percent, while teachers were made accountable for their performance through a system of rewards and punishment as well as result-based promotions.

He said Rs50 million was earmarked for rewarding those teachers who demonstrate extra ordinary performance and ensure marvelous academic results.

The chief minister said all-out efforts were being undertaken to ensure a secured and safe future for children, especially for the poor and less privileged children of the province.

SCHOOL ENROLMENT CAMPAIGN: The district education department on Wednesday began a campaign meant to enrol children in government schools in Lakl(i Marwat.

The campaign named `Ghar Aya Ustad` was launched during a special ceremony at the sub-divisional education offices in Lakki city. The speakers highlighted the importance of education and usefulness of the children`s enrolment in schools.

They said getting education was the basic right of every child and that everyone in the society should ensure that none of the children stayed without it.

DEO Nazir said teachers would launch a door-to-door campaign to persuade parents for enrolment of their children in schools. He said enrolment desks would be established at schools, while announcements would be made in the streets through primary school head teachers as part of awareness campaign.

Also in the day, female district education officer Razia Khattak inaugurated the enrolment drive during a special ceremony in the Government Primary School for Girls, Kala Manjiwala.-Dawn Report