Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has unveiled a new Education Research Commission (ERC) to revolutionize the country's education system here in Islamabad on Thursday. The commission, which will be comprised of experts, policymakers, educators, and other stakeholders, will embark on a comprehensive study to analyze the education system's performance since devolution of the education sector to provinces. The commission's findings will serve as a guiding light to shape evidence-based policies and initiatives aimed at nurturing a knowledgeable, skilled, and forward-thinking generation. In his address, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the need for urgent action to address the persistent shortcomings in the education sector, including the widening salary gap between public and private school teachers, the governance issues that hamper effective education delivery, and the lack of data-driven decision-making.

 He also called for comprehensive reforms to attract and retain highly qualified teachers, stressing the importance of stability of tenure in improving the quality of education. Ahsan Iqbal also announced plans to address the challenge of out-of-school children by allocating funds amounting to Rs25 billion, and underscored the importance of early childhood education, stating that a significant portion of these funds should be dedicated to this crucial phase of development. The minister called for urgent and collective action, emphasizing the need to expedite efforts during the upcoming caretaker government. He envisaged that the commission's findings and recommendations would provide a ready-made roadmap for the incoming administration, enabling swift and impactful improvements in the education sector.

 
Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)