The launching ceremony of Provincial of Non-Formal Education Management Information System Scorecard (Punjab), was organized in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Education, JICA, and Punjab Higher Education Commission Punjab in the Auditorium of Punjab Higher Education Commission, Arfa Software Technology Park, Lahore. The distinguished Chief Guest for the occasion was Rana Tanveer Hussain, the Federal Minister for Higher Education and Professional Training. Joining him were esteemed individuals including Dr. Shahid Munir, Chairperson of Punjab HEC, Chi Ho Ohashi, Chief Advisor from JICA, Dr. Shazra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, Chairperson of the Board of National Education Foundation, Dr. Shahid Saroya, Director General of Pakistan Institute of Education, Dr. Khurram Shahzad and other prominent educationalists.

Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain while addressing the ceremony said that 23 million children not going to schools for all of us Alarming Situation۔Federal Education Minister Rana Tanveer Hussaishould not only collect numbers but also do practical work and show them as role models in front of the provinces. We have to remove the deprivations of the provinces. Pakistan Institute for Education has to play an active role. In the past, provinces had reservations about the single curriculum, we have changed it to the National Curriculum. He said that the quality of education depends on qualified teachers. A world-class teachers’ training center is being built in Islamabad. Educational institutions should develop skills in the youth, degrees alone are not enough, and people with PhDs are unemployed due to a lack of skills. Today there is a demand for talent in the world. Rana Tanveer Hussain clarified that the budget of public sector universities is being made conditional on performance.

Chairperson PHEC Dr. Shahid Munir while addressing the event said that it is our commitment to promote access to quality education in Punjab. In rural areas, this rate is 23 percent. Access to education in our country is only 12 to 13 percent. The target of PHEC is to take it to 30 percent by 2025. For this work, there is an urgent need for mutual cooperation among all stakeholders. He said that the Non-Formal Education Management Information System (NFEMIS) is an important tool to address the current challenges in the field of education management. It is an important step in our collective efforts to enhance the quality and accessibility of education in Punjab. Scorecard is a great effort that will help us to improve the condition of education in the province.

Dr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya, Director General of Pakistan Institute of Education presented the performance of his institution and said that due to our efforts, more than 24,000 children have entered the schools in a few months and next year this number will be increased to 50,000. Chief Advisor Jika Chi Ho Ohashi and Dr. Khurram Shahzad also addressed the ceremony.