Seminar on Policy Dialogue on Education

&

Role of Parliamentarians,

Venue: Quetta, 5^th October 2006

 

Participants

 

1.   Ms. Nasreen Khaitran, Provincial Minister for Population welfare

2.   Lt. Col.Rtd. M. Younas Changhezi, Provincial Minister for Sports

3.   Dr. Ruqqiya Saeed Hashmi, MPA

4.   Eng.Basant Lal  Gulshan, MPA

5.   Shafique Ahmed Khan, MPA

6.   Ambrose John Francis, MPA

7.   Rahmat Baloch, MPA

8.   Senator Rehmat khan

9.   Abdul Rehman MPA

10. Dr. Chishti Mujahid weekly Akhbar-e-Jehan

11. M. Khalid Gujjar Reporter Online

12. Rao. M. Iqbal Chief Reporter Daily Mashriq

13. Akbar Durrani Project Manager ESRA

14. Dr. Maryam BFD

15. Sonia Sahar Executive Director BFD

16. Irfan Ahmed M.D. SCSPEB

17. Mohammad Amar P.O. SCSPEB

18. Ubaidullah Director, voice

19. Dr. Abdul Razzaq AMC, ARC

20. Nadim Reporter, Mashriq

21. Ashiq Ali NNI

22. Mohsin Photographer APP

23. Azam Baloch Reporter  Rung T.V

24. Dr. Dilshad Qaim

25. Nawaz Ali Agriculturist

  

Working Group

 

1.  Dr. Ruqqiya Saeed Hashmi MPA

2.  MS Nasreen Khaitran,Provincial Minister for Population welfare

3.  Eng.Basant Lal  Gulshan MPA

4.  Shafique Ahmed Khan MPA

5.  Ambrose John Francis MPA

6.  Lt. Col.Rtd. M. Younas Changhezi, Provincial Minister for Sports &

     Environment                       

7.  Rahmat Baloch MPA

 

Seminar Proceedings

Education plays an important role in the development process of country. Compromise on quality of education may be considered obstacle in the development process. Teaching professionals play significant role to enhance standards and quality of education. For this purpose teachers must be equipped with continuous  professional development training. These views were expressed by various parliamentarians taking active part in education policy discussions in a seminar organized by PCHR in collaboration with ESRA in Quetta, a capital city of province Balochistan of Pakistan. Participants of the seminar highlighted some issues in the sector of education reforms

summarized as under.

 

Issues in the Education Sector Reforms

 

*        Lack of educational institutions in the province

*         Lack of facilities for teacher trainings

*         Non- professional approach towards curriculum development

*         Absence of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system at district and tehsil levels

*         Teaching process is carried on without observing pedagogical skills

*         Lack of cooperation and coordination in civil societies organizations working on education sector

*         In case donors waive off their cooperation, the running programs on education reforms are likely to be affected

*         Full involvement of community in education sector is not organized

*         Lack of government interest in technical education

*         Policy formulators are not aware of the peculiar education needs of  particular communities

 

Parliamentarians Involvement

 

The above mentioned situation is result of the least role of parliamentarians on education. From the parliamentary proceedings it becomes clear education is not made the subject of discussions. In case it is discussed , the main emphasis is laid upon provision of infrastructure, in particular constituency leaving the qualitative , fiscal national utilization of educational funds and administrative efficiency as well.. research shows that the reasons for parliamentarians interest in the education is the lack of training areas such as policy and fiscal analysis .There is growing recognition that policy formulation and restructuring should not be left to a small group of senior politicians as well as public servants in concerned ministries whose decisions becomes class-oriented.

 

Parliamentarians and parliamentary committees perform key role by discussing, and reviewing various policy decisions of the government. Thus it is important that inclusion of Parliamentarians should be made important part of policy formulations.

 

ESRA is contributing and providing assistance in education sector under the education reform assistance program. ESRA strategy for in-service professional development of educators and administrators involves besides other interventions, strengthening of  the existing public sector institutions through various approaches which would result in a fully functional professional development infrastructure ( PDI ) in place at the district level and networked with the provincial and national machinery for professional development.. The PDI will address the on-going learning needs of educational professional.. The PDI will ensure  that primary school teachers receive regular in-service support at the school and union council ( UC ) level , teachers educators ( mentors and master trainers ) receive ongoing professional support at the Tehsil, district and provincial levels and that education managers and administrators receive support for capacity building at the district , provincial and national level.