PESHAWAR: Cash prizes were given to the toppers of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations of all the eight educational boards of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a function arranged on Thursday in connection with the International Literacy Day.

A statement issued here said the event took place at the Institute of Education and Research (IER) and it was attended by a number of students, teachers and chairpersons of the educational boards.

IER and Dosti Welfare Organisation had jointly arranged this event where all the top position-holders were given the cash prize of Rs100,000 each under Dr Munir Award for Academic Excellence. University of Peshawar vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Idrees was the chief guest.

On this occasion, IER director Prof Mohammad Rauf said that the International Literacy Day had gained several dimensions in the digital age compared to the past. He congratulated the 13 toppers of the SSC examinations and said they were the source of pride for them.

The UoP VC spoke about academic excellence and its role in the nation-building process. He said education was a source of power, adding however Pakistan had not been able to benefit from it in a proper manner.

Dr Idrees said the people needed awareness regarding education. He said the inconsistency in education policies was harmful for future of the country. The event also featured a panel discussion on transformation literacy spaces with social workers and educationists from Mafkoora Research Centre (MRC), Rangeet Arts Academy and Umm Al Qura Schools about creativity.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2022