ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was told on Tuesday that the government is mulling over providing loans to low-income schools, affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

National Assembly Standing Committee on Education, which met here with MNA Mian Najeeb-ud-Din Awaisi in the chair discussed various issues related to the education sector. Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Wajiha Akram said that the government is planning to provide loans to educational institutions that suffered losses.

She told the committee that the government took the decision to close schools and colleges because safety of students and teachers was its first priority.

Representatives from Federal Directorate of Education (FDE), Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (Peira) briefed the committee about necessary steps being taken by their respective departments during the pandemic.

HEC officials said that no extra funds were released to the commission.

Members of the committee appreciated efforts being made by respective departments to fight the pandemic.

They also expressed satisfaction over the compliance report regarding implementation of previous recommendations of the committee.

A representative from Tabad Lab gave a presentation about the impact closure of schools has had on children and the education sector’s response to the pandemic.

Meanwhile, a report of the sub-committee was also presented. It was observed by committee members that 17 bills were referred to the sub-committee. the sub-committee submitted recommendations on 13 bills out of which 12 were accepted.

During deliberation on the report, committee members observed that one of the bills titled, The Hyderabad Institute of Technical and Management Science Bill, 2020 will be referred back to the sub-committee for reconsideration.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2021