Computer course to be offered to low-income Pakistanis

The Pakistan Consulate in Dubai will begin computer courses for low-income groups to help them improve their job skills. Consul-General Amaanullah Larik said the programmes will be launched in cooperation with Pakistani schools in Dubai and the Northern Emirates in September.

"These courses are designed to develop skills among Pakistanis who work as taxi drivers, labourers or those who hold other jobs in the low income bracket, and also for the less-educated," he said.

The consulate has earmarked a large amount to set up modern computer laboratories in schools run by the Pakistan Consulate in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. "Funds generated by activities of the Pakistan Consulate during the last Dubai Shopping Festival are being spent on these projects which include the refurbishment of schools, upgrading their science laboratories, recruiting new teachers and getting new equipment," he said.

About 30 new computers will be purchased this summer to upgrade school computer labs and to start the evening classes. "The evening classes will be run on a no-profit, no-loss basis," he added.

Larik said the consulate, with the help of members of the boards of governors of the schools, was taking steps to improve the plight of Pakistani schools, especially those in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.

Members of the boards will play a practical role in the development of their schools instead of just holding meetings. "A committee of board members has been formed to evaluate each teacher in the school vis-à-vis his qualification, teaching skills and individual results.

"Teachers who are not up to the mark are being fired and replaced by qualified teachers," he said. He also said ten new buses will be bought for the four schools. "The government of Pakistan will subsidise the purchase of buses from a well known company in Pakistan," he said.

He said they have also revised the fee concession policy in Pakistani schools. "Now, only the children of deserving people such as widows or people without jobs, or those with very low incomes, will get fee concessions with the permission of the board of governors," he said.

The Consul General is the Chairman of the Boards of Governors of all Pakistani Schools in Dubai and Northern Emirates.