By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has started a major project to upgrade science laboratories in government schools and colleges on modern lines to improve science education.
According to the ministry, the aim of this step is to provide students with practical experience and modern scientific facilities. Under the project, the facilities of existing science labs are being improved and opportunities for practical activities for students are being increased.
The Ministry says modern labs will help promote scientific thinking, research and experimental learning among students. In the first phase of the project, 30 laboratories of 22 educational institutions under the Federal Directorate of Education have been modernized.
The project was formally inaugurated by the Minister for Federal Education at Islamabad Model College for Boys, F-8/4. At Islamabad Model College for Girls, G-11/1, a state-of-the-art IT and computer lab has been established. The other institutions in this phase include Higher Secondary Schools and Model Colleges in different sectors and rural areas of Islamabad. In total, 15 combined science labs, 6 physics labs, 5 chemistry labs and 4 biology labs have been fully equipped with new technology.
In the next phase, the government has decided to upgrade more secondary schools to college level, where Computer Science and Technical Education (Inter Tech) programs are being started from this academic session.
The boys’ schools that have now become model colleges include Islamabad Model School for Boys G-10/3 for Inter Tech stream, I-14 for Inter Tech stream, Chatta, G-9/1, Golra for FSc, FA and ICS, and Tarlai for FA and ICS. The girls’ schools that have been upgraded include Islamabad Model School for Girls Sanjani for Inter Tech stream, Pind Malkan for FA and ICS, and NHC for Inter Tech and ICS.
The modern computer and IT labs are also being prepared to teach students modern skills apart from traditional courses. These include advanced technology courses like Python Programming, JavaScript, Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence tools and Data Visualization.
Under the project, 30 Type-A labs have been equipped with desktop computers and 106 Type-B labs have been equipped with modern Chromebooks, while 150 Tech Fellows have also been deployed for the training of students.
