ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said that the government was working to transform Islamabad’s education system into a model that can serve as a benchmark for other parts of the country.
While visiting the Islamabad Model College for Girls (IMCG) Golra Girls School under the ICT Education Reforms initiative, the minister said the world was witnessing an unprecedented knowledge revolution, in which national progress would increasingly depend on intellectual capacity, creativity and the ability to generate knowledge rather than physical strength.
While addressing the event, he stated that the government’s objective of education reforms was not to remove anyone from the system but to transform it into a highperformance institution capable of delivering quality education and measurable results. He said the government’s foremost priority was to ensure a uniform and equitable education system across the country, providing every childwith equal opportunities to access quality education.
The minister stressed that Pakistan must move beyond rote learning and prom ote critical thinking, creativity, research, problem-solving and the ability to question and generate knowledge. He observed that the traditional education system, shaped by colonial-era practices, had placed excessive emphasis on memorisation rather than independent thinking and intellectual development.
Highlighting the importance of early childhood development, Ahsan Iqbal said the first five to seven years of a child’s life were crucial for developing intellectual and creative abilities.
These capabilities, he noted, could not be developed through information alone but required a supportive learning environment at home, in schools and throughout society.
He called for reforms across the entire education value chain, from early childhood education to colleges and universities.
The minister said teachers must move beyond the traditional role of delivering curricula and preparing students for examinations.Instead, they should encourage curiosity, independent thinking, reading habits, observation and experiential learning. He emphasised that classrooms must become centres of inquiry and research where students could ask questions freely and develop the confidence to explore new ideas.
He further said that education should not be limited to obtaining degrees but must cultivate a lifelong commitment to learning, research and continuous intellectual growth. The country needed future generations equipped with the creativity, critical thinking and collective capabilities required to meet emerging challenges.
Clarifying the scope of the ICT educationreforms, the minister said the initiative was aimed at bringing fundamental improvements in teaching practices and learning outcomes rather than merely introducing administrative changes.
He added that policymakers were visiting schools to understand ground realities, identify challenges faced by sector and non-sector schools, and engage directly with teachers and education staff.
Ahsan Iqbal invited teachers and education personnel to share their suggestions and practical recommendations, emphasising that their firsthand experience would be essential in making the reform process effective, realistic and responsive to the needs of students and educational institutions.