Ministers call for focusing on quality of education, skills.

ISLAMABAD -- At a time when the country is lagging behind in the education sector even in South Asia, with over 22 million of children out of school and a large number of jobless PhD degree holders, federal ministers marked the International Day of Education on Tuesday with new commitments.

In his message, Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain said: 'Indeed we need to invest in people and prioritise education.'

Speaking at the National Skills University (NSU), the education minister said the government was focusing on skill education.

'Since I took charge in April this year, my top priority has been to promote skill education,' he said.

Mr Hussain said it was unfortunate that the quality of education had been compromised with the passage of time, stressing on the need to focus on the quality of education instead of quantity.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the incumbent government was focusing on skill-based education and steps were being taken to promote it.

'It is imperative for us to transform our education system in accordance with modern trends,' said the minister, reiterating that the government was taking concrete steps to create an effective teaching and learning environment.

The ceremony was also attended by Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, NSU Vice Chancellor Dr Mohammad Mukhtar and a large number of students and teachers.

In December 2018, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education in celebration of the role of learning for peace and development. This is a reminder of our collective duty to help every girl and boy access quality education that is their right, offering them a ladder out of poverty and a path to a promising future.

Mr Iqbal said realities of education had been transformed as skill-based education had overtaken degree-based education system.

He said national curriculum reforms were launched under Vision 2025...