Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Saturday said the overwhelming response to admissions in the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence reflected renewed public confidence in government schools, as more than 71,000 students applied for admission to 65 institutions established under the initiative.
Chairing a special meeting to review progress on the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence project, the chief minister was informed that the admissions had attracted a record number of applicants.
The meeting was told that 114 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence would be made functional across the province by Aug 14, while the chief minister set a target to complete 300 such institutions by September.
A detailed briefing informed the meeting that the schools were being developed in line with international standards of education. Each class would have a maximum strength of 30 students, with highly qualified teachers, quality education and zero tuition fee for students from underprivileged families.
The meeting was further informed that 10 per cent of seats would be reserved for students whose families could afford to pay the full fee, while no tuition fee would be charged from students whose parents have a monthly income of up to Rs200,000.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms Nawaz described the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence as an educational revolution in Punjab and said the large number of applicants for admissions was evidence of restored public trust in public-sector schools.
She said the government wanted to establish Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence in every division, district and tehsil of Punjab, adding that she was pleased to witness the strong participation of students in the admission tests conducted by government schools.
The chief minister said the project was close to her heart and thanked Allah Almighty for its success.
She also appreciated the efforts of Provincial Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat and his team for the progress made on the initiative.