Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani... Pakistain's erstwhile current prime minister, whose occasional feats of mental gymnastics can be awe-inspiring ...
on Wednesday said education was the key to fight against ignorance, extremism and terrorism, therefore the government had taken a number of steps to promote educational facilities, both for boys and girls.
Addressing Islamabad Model Schools for Boys and Girls here at PM Staff Colony, after inaugurating the new buildings of these two institutions, he said: "We do have financial constraints but we are fully determined to promote educational facilities and it is at the top of the government's priorities."
Prime Minister Gilani said once the Mohammedans were at the top in the world, mainly due to their progress in education.
He said lack of education was the main cause of the downward trend of the Mohammedans.
He said education played a key role in the progress and prosperity of society and in keeping it united and making it stronger.
"After the 18th Amendment, education has become a provincial subject, but the federal government is still making sincere efforts and contributing a lot to the improvement of educational facilities in the country," he said.
Prime Minister Gilani said the federal government had been in consultation with the chief ministers to have a coordinated, correlated and unified system of education throughout the country for providing equal opportunities to the students.
He said education was important for the progress and prosperity of the country, and added that illiteracy was the root-cause of extremism and terrorism.
He said the youth of Pakistain was dynamic, energetic and intelligent but they just needed good opportunities and facilities to groom their talent.
"We should not underestimate our youth...they have the talent and they could project the name of the country and their parents in the world," Prime Minister Gilani said.
He said the government will take important decisions to promote education and special emphasis will be given on teachers training and creating harmony among the teachers and parents to improve educational facilities.
He said the youth had proved it that they could play important roles in any difficulty and challenge whether it was the earthquake, the floods or against extremism.
Prime Minister Gilani said extremism, terrorism and ignorance were the main hurdles in the country's progress and only promotion of education could provide a solid force to face these challenges.
He said those who are destroying schools, hospitals, attacking security officials and innocent people were not loyal to the country and education could effectively change their attitude and behaviours.
Referring to the 51 per cent female population, Prime Minister Gilani assured that the government would ensure equal opportunities in education and other fields for the women.
"Students are an asset for the country...not liabilities," he said, adding that despite financial constraints, the government was providing funds for the education sector.
Prime Minister Gilani said the government had also been taking steps for the improvement of educational institutions and referred to the decision taken by him to declare all educational institutions in the federal capital as model schools and colleges to improve the standard of these institutions.