Public schools in seven tehsils to be upgraded

Primary schools in the district will serve as middle schools in afternoon shift

The government has decided to upgrade all public schools in all seven tehsils of Rawalpindi district under the Insaf Afternoon Schools project.

The up-gradation will be done in Murree, Kotli Sattian, Gujar Khan, Taxila, Kahuta, Kallar Syedan and Rawalpindi.

The education department officials said that all schools in Rawalpindi district’s rural areas will be upgraded which will save huge sums for the government.

Under the project, all primary schools in the district will serve as middle schools in the afternoon shift while middle schools will be converted into high schools in the second shift. The high schools will function as higher secondary schools under the project.

The government has sought recommendations from all school heads for up-gradation until September 15. The educators will be paid a special honorarium for teaching in the second shift while local educated youth will be hired on lump-sum salaries in areas facing a shortage of regular teachers.

Talking to The Express Tribune, MPA Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, said that the measure will increase the literacy rate in the Rawalpindi district. He added that the implementation of this project will enable students to receive education close to their homes.

He further said that the female students in rural areas will receive a special stipend while all students will get free course books. He added that needy students will be given free uniforms, copies and school bags. Punjab govt approves tech college in Kotli Sattian.

The Punjab government has approved the establishment of a government technical college in the mountainous tehsil of Kotli Sattian. The institution will offer a three-year diploma in different disciplines while its construction cost is expected to be around Rs1 billion.

The government has procured 30 kanals near Kahuti village along the main expressway. The land has been gifted to the Punjab government by a local transporter, Papa Shakeel, and it has been transferred to the government.

The three-storey building will be completed in 18 months and the admission process will start in the 2023 academic session.

PTI MPA from Kotli Sattian, Latasib Satti, said that the technical skills required in the Gulf and European countries will be taught to students in the institution. He said that diplomas in computing, electrical, mechanical, and other fields will be offered in the technical college.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2021.