ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Federal Education and Professional Training on 07-July-2025 pushed for stronger educational reforms, and put under scrutiny the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD) amendments, free milk initiative, and special education policy.
The committee meeting, presided by its chairperson Senator Bushra Anjum Butt at the Parliament House, reaffirmed its commitment to improving governance, inclusivity, and transparency in education sector.
On the agenda item moved by Senator Sarmad Ali regarding provision of free milk in ICT educational institutions, the ministry officials acknowledged the noble intent but highlighted cost implications — estimating a requirement of Rs900 million — and potential food safety risks due to milk’s perishable nature.
The committee decided to review the Punjab government’s provision of free milk model and invited stakeholders, including representatives from Nestlé and Olpers, to deliberate on sustainable frameworks.
Opening with the compliance report of the Pakistan Institute of Fashion Design (PIFD), the committee reviewed the ministry’s progress on amendments directed in its previous sittings. The proposed changes include ensuring 33 percent women representation in the PIFD Senate in line with the Prime Minister’s Office directive for all federal bodies.
Furthermore, the new clause proposes that the vice chancellors’ appointment be restricted to a four-year term, with no extensions, but open to competitive re-selection. “This will lead to transparency and credibility — we don’t want heads to be bigger than the institutions themselves. Legislation should solve problems, not create them,” the committee chairperson remarked.
Senator Anjum Butt also stressed that a mandatory quarterly Senate meeting must be held to maintain checks and balances and sought a complete list of federal institutions where vice chancellors had served beyond one or two terms.
The committee next deliberated the Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks and Maintenance of Standards of Education (Amendments) Bill 2024, moved by Senator Qurat-Ul-Ain Marri.
After extensive debate on sensitive aspects — particularly age limits for reproductive health education — the bill was deferred for further input.
While senators Kamran Murtaza and Gurdeep Singh rejected the bill outrightly, other members suggested amendments, including setting the age for reproductive health education to 13 or 16 years, respecting cultural sentiments and local context. “The intention is clear: to curb child abuse, misinformation on the internet, and ensure that ‘reproductive health education’ equips children with accurate knowledge about their physical, mental, and social well-being,” the committee chairperson emphasised.
The Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE) gave a detailed briefing on its current roles, functions, and ongoing projects. Senator Anjum Butt reiterated the urgent need to table a comprehensive policy draft for Special Education, lamenting that the sector still operates under outdated legislation predating the 18th Amendment.
Key financial figures were also discussed vis-à-vis FY 2023–24: Grant Rs886.614 million, expenditure Rs950.364 million, and deficit Rs63.75 million.
FY 2024–25: Grant Rs726.008 million, expenditure Rs840.753 million, and deficit Rs114.745 million. FY 2025–26: Requirement Rs1,436 million and allocation Rs788.188 million.
Institutions under DGSE include the National Special Education Centres for Visually Handicapped, Physically Handicapped, Hearing Impaired Children, and the Rehabilitation Centre for Children with Developmental Disorders.
The committee directed that the secretary of the Health Ministry be called in to discuss the inclusion of test through which children with hearing issues be detected and also be included in Children Health Card, ensuring tests are done within six months of birth.
It also called for a comprehensive review of the PSDP budget allocations for special education. The meeting was attended by senators Ashraf Ali Jatoi, Syed Masroor Ahsan, Falak Naz, Fawzia Arshad, Dr Afnan Ullah Khan, Rahat Jamali, Kamran Murtaza, Khalida Ateeb, Gurdeep Singh, Qurat-Ul-Ain Marri, and Sarmad Ali, along with senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
Published in News Daily on 08-July-2025.
