Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry joins hand with Allama Iqbal Open University in effort to educate a child

Islamabad, May 30, 2013 (PPI-OT): Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has launched a new scheme ‘Educate a Child’ to give financial and academic support to drop-out male and female students, with the cooperation of the domestic and foreign donors.

While launching the scheme at the University’s main campus, Vice-Chancellor, AIOU Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi and the President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr.Zafar Bakhtawari announced to join hands for implementing the scheme and help the government to educate the nation through formal as well as distance-learning system.

Mr.Zafar Bakhtawari, President ICCI assured that ICCI would extend full support to AIOU in its task to help poor and needy students, especially those living in districts Chakwal, Vehari, Thatta and other parts of the country where the literacy rate is below 40 percent.

ICCI President lauded the vision and the efforts of the Vice-Chancellor in promoting AIOU’s linkages with the Business Community and Non-Governmental Organization in their educational pursuits. He noted that the AIOU with about 1.3 million students’ enrolments, is playing a leading role in meeting education needs of the country through distance education system.

Mr.Bakhtawari was of the view that without proper attention on education sector, our country cannot move forward to compete the challenging global environment. In Pakistan this sector needs to be given more priority to prepare a well-educated and trained manpower to contribute in the future economic development of the country, he added.

Prof. Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi said the University will make necessary arrangements to provide primary and middle-level education to around one million students through open schooling system under the “Educate A Child Scheme” by the end of next year.

He said Open Schooling System will not replace and hurt the formal education system, this will be the supplement of the existing system of education.

The Vice-Chancellor appealed the well-to-do people home and abroad to join hands the AIOU in educating one million drop-out male and female students through “Open Schooling System” under “Educate a Child Scheme”.

He said the University was steadily moving ahead to expand its infrastructural network, by opening new campuses and model study centers in every nock and corner of the country wherein all start-of-the-art facilities would be provided, skilled staff and IT-background student-counselors and field-workers would be employed for providing quick and excellent services to students.

For more information, contact:
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Chamber House, Aiwan-e-Sanat-o-Tijarat Road,
Mauve Area, G-8/1,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +9251 225 0526 and 225 3145
Fax: +9251 225 2950
Email: icci@brain.net.pk
Website: www.icci.com.pk