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Islamabad, June 19, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

EDUCATION MINISTRY NOTIFIES NEW TEXTBOOK POLICY 

Islamabad, February 9, 2007
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
EDUCATION REFORMS TO CHANGE COUNTRY’S IMAGE
 
   The Federal Minister for Education, Lt. Gen (R) Javed Ashraf said that with the
timely and successful implementation of the reforms initiated in the social, economic

 and education systems of the country, Pakistan is well on its’ way to a respectable 

position in the world.
 
This he said while briefing a 6-member delegation of the members of the House of
Commons of the British Parliament and Intelligence & Security Committee, lead
by Ms. Dari Tylor, MP, on the reforms introduced by the government in the country’s 

education sector, here today. He added that president Pervez Musharraf and 

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had ensured  balanced, forward looking, and updated 

education system in the country.
 
The minister, while briefing  the delegation said that every effort had been taken
to bring quality and uniformity in the education system of the country by implementing

the new Scheme of Studies all over the country which would also change the 

stereo-type teaching and learning methodologies by discouraging rote learning and 

concept based studies and examination.
 

While apprising the delegation on the revolutionary reforms taken under the guidance 

from the President and with agreement of all the provinces, the minister told that for 

the first time in the history of the country, political resolve and an administrative 

commitment was shown by the country’s top leadership, the educational managers and 

the policy makers. He said that free education along with free text books for the children

had been introduced in the country, new scheme of studies was prepared and approved 

by all the provinces, computer education from class 6 had been declared compulsory and

added that English along with Urdu had been declared as a compulsory subject from class 1
in all the schools. 

He maintained that new National Curriculum was free of any biases, hate, sectarianism 

and repetitions. Medical Technology and Computer Science Groups had been introduced 

in the new Curriculum and the Curriculum had been made compatible with any advanced

country.
 
The Minister, while further apprising the delegation said that the government had
decided to update the National Curriculum after every five years to ensure that all
new developments were incorporated.

Informing the delegation, about increase in the educational budget, he told that from 

Rs. 75 billion in  the  year 2000  to Rs. 211 billion in the current year,  was a substantial 

increase but  was however still only  2.7% of the GDP. It is likely to be enhanced to 4% 

in the coming fiscal year. He added that stature and salaries of the teachers had also 

been increased by giving them a special teaching allowance and a better starting grade.
 
He added that both the President and the Prime Minister were taking personal interest in 

making quality education accessible to all and for this purpose the government had 

earmarked Rs. 1.05 billion for 2006-07 for the provision of missing facilities to the 

government schools through the President’s Education Sector Reforms. The amount 

would be spent on provision of water, toilets, science and computer labs and other 

facilities, the non existence of which were considered a cause of high drop out and low 

enrolment rate in the country and added that the programme would continue untill all the 

schools have been brought to a respectable state.

Minister further apprised the delegation that the issue of low rate of enrolment in the girls

education was being tackled successfully and even the most remote and conservative 

areas had agreed to the proposal that female teachers would be hired for teaching in the 

primary schools and added that the demand for establishing more girls’ schools was high 

from the people of FATA and Balochistan which would be met.
  
The leader of the delegation, Ms. Dari Tylor, MP , appreciated the reforms introduced by 

the government in the Education System that could change the destiny of the nation and 

proposed enhanced educational cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.

Islamabad, January 25, 2007
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
EDUCATION REFORMS TO REVOLUTIONISE EDUCATION SYSTEM, MINISTER
 
The Federal Minister for Education, Lt. Gen (R) Javed Ashraf said that with the
timely and successful implementation of the reforms initiated in the public
education system of the country, Pakistan was transforming into a knowledge-based
society to meet the challenges of the globalization.
 
This he said while briefing a 12-member delegation of the students of Kennedy
School of Government, Harvard University, United States of America on the reforms
introduced by the post-October administration in the country’s education sector,
here today.
 
The minister, while appraising the delegation said that every effort had been
taken to bring quality and uniformity in the education system of the country by
implementing the new National Curriculum all over the country which would also
change the stereo-type teaching and learning methodologies by discouraging rote
learning and concept based studies and examination.
 
While apprising the delegation on the revolutionary reforms taken under the
guidance from the President and with  agreement of all the provinces, the
minister told that for the first time in the history of the country, political
resolve and an administrative commitment was shown by the country’s top
leadership, the educational managers and the policy makers. He said that free
education along with free text books for the children had been introduced in the
country, new scheme of studies was prepared and approved by all the provinces,
computer education from class 6 had been declared compulsory and added that
English had been declared as a compulsory subject from 
class 1 in all the schools. He maintained that new National Curriculum was free of
any biases, hate, sectarianism and repetitions were deleted, Medical Technology and
Computer Science Groups had been introduced in the new Curriculum and the Curriculum
had been made compatible with any advanced country.
 
The Minister for Education further apprising the delegation said that government
had decided to update the National Curriculum after every five years to  ensure
that all new developments were incorporated.
  
The minister further informed the delegation about increase in the educational
budget to from Rs. 160 billion last year to Rs. 211 billion in the current year,
which was however still the 2.7% of the GDP  but likely to be enhanced to 4% in the
coming fiscal year. He added that stature and salaries of the teachers had also been
increased by giving them a special teaching allowance and a better starting grade.
 
He added that both the President and the Prime Minister were taking personal
interest in making quality education accessible to all and for this purpose the
government had earmarked Rs. 1.05 billion for 2006-07 for the provision of missing
facilities to the government schools through the President’s Education Sector
Reforms. The amount would be spent on provision of water, toilets, science and
computer labs and other facilities, the non existence of which were considered a
cause of high drop out and low enrolment rate in the country. 
 
Minister further apprised the delegation that the issue of low rate of enrolment
in the girls education was being tackled successfully and even the most remote and
conservative areas had agreed to the proposal that female teachers would be hired
for teaching in the primary schools and added that the demand for establishing
more girls’ schools was high from the people of FATA and Balochistan. 
  
The delegation, comprising of students who were currently studying various
disciplines of Government Administration at KSG, Harvard University hailed the
polices and reforms introduced by the government and appreciated the commitment of
the Minister for Education by taking decisions with all stake holders onboard.

Islamabad, January 22, 2007
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
The 11th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers’ meeting approved the new
Textbook Policy in principle and decided that the finalized policy would
be implemented after the revised version was sent to the provinces for
views.

The meeting was presided over by the Federal Minister for Educatiobn, Lt.
Gen (R) Javed Ashraf, and was attended by Minister of State for
Education, Anisazeb Tahirkheli, NWFP Education Minister Maulana Fazali
Ali Haqqani, Baluchistan Education Minister Maulana Abdul Wahid Siddiqui,
Mian Imram Masood, Minister for Education Punjab and Dr. Hameeda Khora,
Minister for Education Sind along with their respective education
secretaries. Senior officials of the education ministry also participated
in the meeting.

The main features of the textbook policy inter alia, include that the
Provincial Textbook Boards should invite in a transparent manner, book
development proposals from all including private publishers.  Submitted
books will be evaluated and ranked.  Approximately 40% of book printing and
publishing should go to the first ranker, 25% to the second, 15% to the
third and remaining to be distributed to others by the provincial Textbook
Boards.  However, time frame for adoption shall be flexible and should be
left to the discretion of provincial governments to implement it according 
to the capacity and the readiness of each provincial textbook board.  

It was also suggested that a province may select a  textbook from any
other province if so desired. The examination boards will not test the
students from a particular text book but instead do so from the
curriculum and will recommend multiple textbooks.    Ministry of
Education will help in establishing 5 Resource Centers in each Textbook
Board for upgrading the capacity of small publishers and also of the
authors of the provinces in writing the new textbooks and improving
quality.
               

All the Provincial Education Ministers unanimously agreed that the
Secondary and Higher Secondary Education presently resting with the
District Governments would be recommended to be re-assigned to the
provincial governments.  In this behalf, a proposal will be
prepared by MoE and sent to the NRB   

The meeting unanimously agreed that the academic session in the
schools will start from 15th August in order to maximize teaching
learning time. The examinations of secondary and higher secondary
school certificates shall be held in the month of May in each
calendar year and directed the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen
(IBCC) to fix same dates for starting the examination and
declaration of results for all boards in the country.

The meeting further agreed that efforts will be made by provincial
governments to develop textbooks for respective first class of each
level of education (classes I,III, VI ,IX and X1) as first priority so
that the new curriculum can start getting implemented from August 2007.

The meeting was informed that in order to utilize funds earmarked for the
President’s Education Sector Reforms (PESR) more effectively, it was
agreed that the transfer of funds should take place from Federal
Government to Provincial Education Departments directly.  For this
purpose, a joint meeting of all the Provincial Education Secretaries
under the chairmanship of Federal Education Secretary will be held
shortly in order to resolve the issue with the Finance Ministry.  The
provincial governments desired that they need funds from the Federal
Government to handle different thrust areas of PESR in the 
provinces which are in line with the Millennium Development Goals and Education For
All Dakar Goals.  Provincial governments have agreed to submit action plans on each
thrust area for additional funds required on priority.       

The meeting also decided that the students having dual nationality will
be treated at par with foreign nationals for grant of equivalence
certificates by the IBCC. Pakistani nationals studying abroad in foreign
systems of education would need to qualify in Islamiat and Pakistan
Studies for getting equivalence certificates..  It was further   decided
that the students of Deeni Madaris will have to qualify general Maths 
in addition to Urdu, English and Pakistan Studies at SSC level for
equivalence. For Higher Secondary School 
Certificate, two elective subjects as approved by HSSC Scheme of Studies 2006 have
been made mandatory for Deeni Madaris Students in place of Pakistan Studies for
equivalance.

The meeting decided that the students who wish to improve their marks
in SSC and HSSC can do so in two subjects within one year of
deceleration of result without having to re-appear in entire
examination. It was also decided that permission to re-appear in the
supplementary examination will be restricted to those students who
have failed in one/two subjects. Those who fail in more than two
subjects will be considered having failed and will have to repeat the
class. It was agreed that all the provinces would provide Annual
Education Census Data to the National Education Management Information
System latest by 31st January of each year.   Scouting activity has
been declared compulsory at school level in the meeting.  It was
decided that 1% of examination fee collected by all Examination Boards
should be given to provincial Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations.
It was also decided to have a separate Scouts Association for FATA
Schools.

The Federal Education Minister informed the Provincial Ministers
that reasonable funds are available for the development of
education, provided provincial governments come up with convincing
projects within the PESR.  The federal Minister for Education 
further clarified that lessons from Islamic History  and national
heroes can be included in Urdu textbooks.

Islamabad December 28, 2006
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
COMMENTS INVITED TO FINALIZE THE NEW EDUCATION POLICY
 
The Federal Ministry of Education has decided to finalize the new National Education
Policy for implementation by the mid of next year.
 
This was decided in a high level meeting chaired by the Federal Minister for
Education, Lt. Gen (R) Javed Ashraf, here today. The meeting was apprised that a
pre-policy paper ‘White Paper’ had been finalized after consultation and
incorporation of the suggestions and comments from various stakeholders including
the exclusive lengthy discussions during the seminars arranged at all the provincial
metropolis of the country by the Federal Ministry of Education. The comments and
views of the provincial education departments were considered and incorporated in
the draft policy.
 
The meeting was further told that in January 2005, the Inter-provincial Education
Ministers’ Conference endorsed the need to review the existing National Education
Policy, which was complied by constituting a Review Team in September 2005 with the
mandate to assess the policy through dialogue with the stakeholders.
 
The meeting decided to place the ‘White Paper’ on the website of the ministry which
can be accessed by clicking www.moe.gov.pk/nepr for feedback of the concerned
stakeholders by January 20, 2007 for seriously considering the comments for
incorporation in the revised National Education Policy.  The ‘White Paper’ can also
be obtained from info@moe.gov.pk

Islamabad, November 3, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

PAK EDUCATIONAL REFORMS PRACTICLE TO ACHIEVE MDGs

‘The educational reforms initiated by the present regime in Pakistan will help in

achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the desired time a the country

is following a rational set of policies.

This was said by the former president of the Democratic Socialist Republic of

Srilanka and the consultant to UNESCO on Millennium Development Goals for South

Asia, Mrs. Chandarika Bandranaikay Kumaratunga after a briefing given by the Federal

Minister for Education Lt. Gen (R) Javed Ashraf on the educational scenario and

reforms undertaken in Pakistan, here today.

The former president was told that the timely interventions and steps taken by the

government after the implementation of the  President’s Education Sector Reforms,

establishment of Non-formal Basic Education Schools, interventions by the National

Commission for Human Development, Medium Term Development Framework and the

Provincial Education Sector Reforms had considerably enhance the fiscal allocation

in the education sector which resulted in a major accessibility of all to free and

quality education even at the backward areas of the country.

The minister further briefed the visiting consultant that the revised National

Curriculum had been made sect free by removing all the controversial sectarian

material and added that ministry had decided to periodically review the curriculum

to align it with modern developments and added that number of other reforms had been

introduced at the national level which would surely boast the educational standard

to the international level.

Apprising the envoy on the increasing allocation of budget in the education sector,

the minister told that from Rs 120.56 billion in 2003-04, educational allocations

had been increased to Rs 211.778 billion which testified the commitment of the

government by making quality education accessible to all and also to achieve MDGs to

which country is a signatory and added that drop out rate had been curtailed from

7.684million in 1999-2000 to 5.512 million in 2004-05, which, the he said was still

alarming but could further be curtailed by the successful implementation of the

reforms.

The envoy was further appraised by the Minister of State for Education Ms. Anisazeb

Tahirkheli on the President’s Education Sector Reforms, representatives of the

National Commission for Human Development, National Education Foundation and the

provincial education secretaries on their respective progress in the education

sector and the steps taken by the provinces to achieve the Millennium Development

Goals.

The envoy offered the country’s educational policy makers the technical expertise by

the Srilankan government in the education sector.

NO F 1-2/2006-DD
GOVERNMNET OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Islamabad, June 29, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

EDUCATION MINISTRY NOTIFIED NEW SCHEME OF STUDIES

The Federal Ministry of Education has notified the new Scheme of Studies for classes
1-12, in exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 3
of the Federal Supervision of Curricula, Textbooks and Maintenance of Standards of
Education Act, 1976.

In the new Scheme of Studies, subject of Islamiyat has been made compulsory from
class III instead of class IV in all the classes and Advanced Islamic and Pakistan
Studies have been included. Non-Muslim students have been given the option to study
Ethics Islamiyat in all the classes. Computer education has also been made
compulsory from class VI. Physical Training, Arts & Crafts, Library sessions and
after school team sports has been announced compulsory. The academic days have been
increased from 170 to 210. The new Scheme will be effective from 2007 and the
teaching of Science and Maths in English language by 2011 has been notified. All the
middle schools will be equipped with the computer labs in 3 years time. Standardized
exams will be conducted at the
end of class VIII to grant scholarships to the students at the provincial &
district level.

According to new Scheme of Studies,in class I & II, students will be taught
Urdu,English,Maths and General Knowledge which include short stories from
Islamaiyat, Islamic History, Science and Social Studies. Provinces have the
discretion to use their regional language as a medium of instruction and no student
will be retained in class I&II.

From class VI onwards, Science, Geography, History, Computer Education will be
taught in addition to other compulsory subjects. Maths, Scinece and Computer
Education will be taught in English, whereas, for Geography & History, medium of
instruction can either be Urdu or English upto 2011.

For class IX & X in Humanities Group, subjects of Pakistan Studies, and three
out of 22 elective subjects, will be taught in addition to Urdu, English, Maths and
Islamiyat. Advanced Islamic Studies has been introduced as an elective subject for
those who wish to become Islamic scholar.

In the Science Group for class IX &X, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths will
be taught in English whereas, Islamiyat and Pakistan Studies will be taught in Urdu
language.

In the new Scheme of Studies at HSSC level, 5 academic groups, i.e. Science Group-I
(Pre-Medical), Science Group-II(Pre-engineering or Computer Science), Humanities,
Commerce, Medical Technology and Home Economics groups have also been notified.

In Pre-Engineering Group, Maths, Physics, Chemistry or Computer Science will be
taught in addition to the compulsory subjects of Islamiyat, Urdu and English.

In Humanities Group, 3 out of 24 elective subjects, including Advanced Pakistan
Studies and Advanced Islamic Studies etc, will be offered in addition to Urdu,
English, & Islamiyat.

In Commerce Group, Business Maths & Statistics, Principles of Accounting,
Computer Skills/Banking, Principles of Economics and Commercial Geography will be
taught in addition to Urdu, English and Islamiyat.

In Medical Technology Group, Lab, Image, Operation Theatre, Ophthalmogy,
Physiotherapy and Dental Hygiene Technologies will be taught, in addition to Urdu,
English and Islamiyat.

In Home Economics Group, Food & House Management, Food & Nutrition, Home
Farming, Clothing, Child Development, Group Behavior, Child Caring and Nursing will
be taught in addition to Urdu, English and Islamiyat.

NO F 1-2/2006-DD
GOVERNMNET OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Islamabad, July 18, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

FREE EDUCATION APPROVED FOR THE DEPENDENTS OF DECEASED JOURNALIST


Complying with the directives of the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the Federal
Ministry of Education has earmarked Rs. 1,50,000 per year, to bear the
educational expenses of the dependent children of the deceased journalist Hayat
Ullah, who was killed by unknown assailants in Mirali, North Wazirastan Agency in
June, this year.

The Ministry of Education will bear the educational costs of four children of the
deceased Hayat Ullah , including his elder daughter Naila Hayat, student of class
4 who will get Rs. 44000 per year till the completition of her studies.
Similarly, Rs. 44,000 per annum will be incurred on the educational expenses of
her second daughter Farishta Hayat till she completes her high studies. His
younger son Kamran Hayat, a prep student, will also be provided education on
state expenses amounting to Rs. 44000 per year. Faisal Hayat, a minor, the
youngest son of the deceased journalist, will get Rs 18000, as a maintenance
allowance till he enrolls in any school, after which he will also be provided
education at state expense.

The ministry of education has asked the Finance Division to release funds
for provision of free education up to college level to the children of the
deceased journalist on priority basis.

NO F 1-2/2006-DD
GOVERNMNET OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION


Islamabad, July 31, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

CHAPTER ON JESUS (AS) INCLUDED IN REVISED ISLAMIYAT’S CURRICULUM

The Federal Ministry of Education in response to a letter written by Mr. Aitzaz
Ahsan, Member National Assembly to the Federal Minister for Education, Lt. Gen
(R) Javed Ashraf, has replied that chapter on Jesus Christ (Hazrat Issa
Aillah-us-Salam) along with other Prophets has already been included in revised
National Curriculum.

The Education Ministry further informed the MNA that the entire National
Curriculum is under total review, which also includes the subject of Ethics
(Ikhlaqiat).The observation and comments of Mr. Aitazaz Ahsan will be taken
into considertion when the new textbooks are written according to revised
National Curriculum.

NO F 1-2/2006-DD
GOVERNMNET OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Islamabad, September 4, 2006


MESSAGE OF VIPs TO BE REMOVED FROM TEXTBOOKS

The Federal Ministry of Education, today, has advised all the Provincial Textbook
Boards not to print any message and the photograph of any VIP of the country in the
textbooks.

The ministry has also reminded all the provincial textbook boards, the National
Book Foundation and the Directorate of Curriculum Research and Development of the
Azad Governmnet of the Jammu and Kashmir for strict implementation the decision of
the 10th Inter-Provincial Education Ministers Meeting held on 10th June 2006 at
Peshawar, in which it was decided that no message and photograph of any VIP except
the sayings and photographs of the founder of the country Quaid-e- Azam Mohammad
Ali Jinnah would be printed in the textbooks.

The Ministry of Education, in a correspondence addressed to all the concerned
provincial authorities, has advised that except the sayings and photographs of
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, not to publish any message and photograph of any
VIP of the country

NO F1-2/2006-DD
GOVERNMNET OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION


Islamabad, September 7, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

MINISTRY TO START “100% ENRLOMENT FOR LITERACY” CAMPAIGN

On the eve of International Literacy Day, the Federal Ministry of Education will
start a new literacy campaign in Islamabad Capital Territory today, by bringing out
of school children of the suburbs of ICT back to schools.

The International Literacy Day will be marked by the campaign which will be
inaugurated by the Federal Minister for Education, Lt. Gen (R) Javed Ashraf, who
along with officials of the ministry and representatives of the international
development partners will visit Jhang Sayedan and take the out of school children
from their homes for admission in the local schools.

The campaign will start at 9:00 am at F.G. Boys Secondary School, Jhang Sayaden and
will continue till the achievement of 100% literacy rate in the capital. The “100%
Enrolment for Literacy” campaign will target the children of the slums and urban
areas of the capital and will ensure that each and every child should get enrolled
in the school to achieve 100% literacy rate.

The campaign will also endorse the commitments made by Pakistan at various
international forums specially the Millennium Development Goals and Education for
All.

NO F 1-2/206-DD
GOVERNMNET OF PAKISTAN
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Islamabad, September 8, 2006

PRESS RELEASE

MINISTER LAUNCHES “100% ENRLOMENT FOR LITERACY” CAMPAIGN

The Federal Minister for Education, Lt. Gen (R) Javed Ashraf had launched the ‘100%
Enrolment for Literacy’ campaign on the eve of International Literacy Day at Jhang
Sayedan, a suburb of Islamabad, here today.

The Minister for Education went to the house of an 8-year old out of school child
Zafar Ullah and took him to the nearby F.G. Boys Secondary School at Jhang Sayaden
for admission. The minister signed the admission form of the student and presented
him textbooks in a school bag.

Addressing a huge gathering of students, teachers, representatives of the
International Donor Agencies and officials of the ministry, the minister said that
the revised National Curriculum drafted by the ministry would bring new concepts and
themes in the socio-economic development of the country and added that the
substandard education being imparted to the students would see improvement after the
implementation of the revised curriculum.

Informing the gathering about the revised Islamiyat Curriculum, the minister said
that from class 3 to 8, the students would complete the recitation of the Holy Quran
besides the through knowledge of Islam and added that in the revised curriculum,
Advanced Islamic Studies had been introduced for the students who wanted to become
religious scholars. The minister further maintained that the new Islamiyat
curriculum was balanced and non-controversial, as it had been drafted by authentic
religious scholars.

The minister further told the participants that Pakistan’s educational standing in
the World was regrettable as Pakistan was almost at the last rung because of the
presence of more than 50 million illiterates in the country. He further told the
participants that to fulfill the commitments made by Pakistan at various
international forums and to achieve the targets of 85% literacy by 2015, the
government had to wage a crusade against illiteracy besides diverting major chunk of
resources to the education sector. The minister also advised the gathering that they
should now consider technical education for their children as Pakistan would need
skilled manpower in the coming years.

Minister for Education further told the participants that to curtail the drop out
rate and enhance literacy rate of the country, the ministry of education would
provide basic missing facilities to help the provinces all over the country and
added that 32 schools of the Islamabad Capital Territory would be equipped with all
the basic facilities by the end of this year. He also maintained that public
educational institutions of the Islamabad would be a role model for rest of the
country.

The education minister, while warning the teachers present at the gathering, told in
unequivocal terms that he would not tolerate politics in education in the ICT
educational institutions and added that he would support teachers for their genuine
demands, but would not allow political maneuverings and unionism in the educational
institutions which results in ruination of education standards and environment in
the schools.

Sharing the salient features of the new examination reforms, the minister told the
congregation that from the next academic year the question papers would comprise of
50% short questions and 20% multiple choice questions and added that the overall
choice while attempting questions has been reduced from 100% to 30% with only 3
grace marks to the failed candidates instead of 11 and added that this discourage
the rote memorization among the students.

Speaking on the occasion, the Country Director of UNESCO, George Sequira said that
Pakistan’s educational policies were in the right direction which would help the
country in achieving 100% literacy rate by 2015. Later, the minister distributed
free textbooks and school bags among the local children. DG Federal Directorate of
Education, representatives of the Parent Teachers Association and community elders
also addressed the ceremony.