ISLAMABAD, Dec 20: The 14th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers (IPEM) meeting has decided to start computer education from class I, introduce uniform curriculum in all schools and improve women education.

The meeting was held to discuss education-related matters here on Saturday.

The proposal of imparting computer education at primary level was recommended by the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

The meeting discussed the proposal and decided to start computer education from level-1 instead of continuing with the prevalent practice of introducing the subject in class-VI. After considering the proposals of the provinces, it was decided that initially it will be started as a pilot project in selected districts.

For the identification of the districts comprehensive surveys will be conducted, the meeting was informed.

At present, the facility of computer education in public schools was as low as 10 per cent, and that too only in high schools. None of the primary schools had this facility, while 90 per cent of the high schools did not have computer labs.

Academic session also came under discussion and the IPEM re-affirmed its earlier decision to revert back to the previous practice of starting the session from March-April.

The meeting also discussed the status of developing a new curriculum. It was informed by the federal education secretary that out of a total of 81 subjects included in the scheme of studies, the curriculum of 24 subjects had been notified in 2006 while the draft curriculum of nine more subjects was with the provinces for comments.

Education Minister Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani stressed on accelerating the process of curriculum development of the remaining subjects by next year and implementing the syllabus that had already been notified.

He also felt the need for improving educational facilities for women and in this connection he directed the provinces to enhance women education in their respective zones through devising comprehensive policies.

Emphasising the importance of women education, Mr Bijrani said women education was the need of the hour, and it was what that should be taken into account because women constitute half of the population and their role was vital.

He also shared with the meeting the measures being taken by the government to introduce a uniform curriculum in all schools of the country. The minister stressed the need for wide cooperation between federal and provincial governments. He said IPEM should be held at regular intervals, and termed it a useful platform to discuss education-related issues.

Talking about the existence of ghost schools, the minister said such institutions existed in bulk (8,000 ghost schools in the country majority of which are in Sindh) and collaborative efforts were needed at different levels to eliminate such schools.

Financial matters pertaining to PSDP and ESR also came under discussion.

The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to Prime Minister Shafique Khan, the Balochistan education minister, Education Secretary Jehangir Bashar besides education secretaries of Sindh, Punjab, the NWFP, Azad Kashmir, Fana, director Fata as well as senior officials of the ministry.