PEF Signs Agreement to Improve Students’ Writing Skills
The Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) has approved a dedicated project to improve students’ handwriting and overall writing skills across its partner schools. The initiative has been formally launched through an agreement with Educational National Services (CNS), signalling a structured push to strengthen basic learning skills in classrooms.
PEF Deputy Managing Director (Support Services) Bushra Naseer and CNS Chief Executive Amjad Hassan signed the agreement, officially kicking off the programme. Speaking at the signing, officials highlighted that clear and confident handwriting is still a core academic skill, especially at primary and middle levels where students are building their foundations in reading and writing.
The project will be rolled out across PEF-supported institutions, with the aim of giving students practical training in how to write more neatly, quickly and with better structure in both Urdu and English.
Special Training in Handwriting, Writing Skills and Calligraphy
Under the agreement, students in PEF-affiliated schools will receive specialised training focused on three key areas: handwriting, general writing skills and calligraphy. The training will introduce students to proper letter formation, spacing between words, consistent sizing, and correct use of margins and lines on the page.
Teachers will use structured practice books and guided exercises to help students move away from untidy, hard-to-read writing and towards more legible and disciplined scripts. Calligraphy components will also help students develop better control of the pen, improve their focus and take pride in the appearance of their work.
By combining handwriting drills with creative calligraphy activities, the programme aims to make practice more enjoyable, so students see writing as a skill they can keep improving rather than a chore.
Why Handwriting Still Matters in the Digital Age
PEF officials have stressed that even in an age of computers and tablets, handwriting remains an essential part of learning. Neat handwriting can make it easier for teachers to understand students’ answers, reduce errors in marking and help children organise their thoughts more clearly on paper.
Research from education systems around the world has shown that the physical act of writing by hand supports memory, concentration and language development. For many students, especially in early grades, strong handwriting skills are closely linked with better performance in subjects such as English, Urdu, science and social studies.
By investing in handwriting and written expression, the Punjab Education Foundation hopes to improve not only exam performance, but also students’ confidence in classroom participation and homework assignments.
Supporting Teachers with Practical Classroom Tools
The handwriting improvement project is also designed to support teachers. Alongside student materials, CNS will provide guidance and resources to help teachers integrate handwriting practice into daily lessons without overloading the timetable.
This may include model lesson plans, activity sheets and simple assessment checklists so that teachers can track each student’s progress over time. Regular feedback will allow teachers to identify students who need extra help with grip, posture, speed or letter formation, and adjust their approach accordingly.
By building teacher capacity in this way, PEF aims to ensure that the project becomes part of routine classroom practice rather than a short-term campaign that fades after initial enthusiasm.
Strengthening Foundational Learning in PEF Partner Schools
The new initiative is part of PEF’s broader focus on strengthening foundational learning skills in low-cost private schools that receive its support. Many students in these schools are first-generation learners whose families rely on the education system to equip their children with basic literacy and numeracy for future success.
By prioritising handwriting, writing skills and calligraphy, PEF is signalling that core abilities must be solid before students can fully benefit from textbooks, digital tools and exam preparation. Clear writing helps students present their ideas better, perform more confidently in tests and communicate effectively in everyday life.
If implemented successfully, the handwriting improvement project could become a model for other provinces looking to raise the quality of foundational learning, showing that relatively small, focused interventions can make a big difference in how students learn and express themselves in school.
