ISLAMABAD March 1: Expressing grave concern over the 2.2 million out of school children in the country, parliamentarians and stakeholders have emphasized upon the government to immediately notify the Free and Compulsory Education (Article 25A) in order the ‘free and compulsory education for all’ goal is achieved to meet the sustainable development goals.
These consensus views were expressed during a national conference on right to education where parliamentarians and other stakeholders organized by the Awaz CDS-Pakistan, Pakistan Development Alliance and VSO Pakistan. The purpose of this conference was to highlight the progress, challenges and way forward viz-a-viz implementation of Article 25-A after 12 years of its inception.
The panelists included Chief Executive Officer Awaz CDS, Zia urRehman; Chairperson National Commission for Child Rights, AfshanTehseen; Zahra Arshad, Pakistan Coalition for Education, AreebaShahid from PYCA, Malik IbrarHussain, President All Pakistan Private Schools Association; Atif from All Pakistan teachers forum, Dr. HammadLanng, Ministry of Human Rights; NafeesaKhattak, Convener SDG4, Sub-Committee, National SDG Task Force; Punjab MPA & Chairperson Standing Committee on School Education, Aisha Nawaz Chaudhry; ShandanaGulzar-MNA and convened SDG 5,Malala Fund Country Director Javed Malik.
It is to mention here that the Free and Compulsory Education was passed by the parliament in 2010 however, the government is yet to notify it in Federal Capital and Punjab despite the passage of several years.
Starting the discussion, CEO Awaz CDS Zia urRehman said that due to the delay in notifying the Act, Pakistan is lagging behind in achieving the SDG on education. “As a developing state, we cannot afford to be lagging in achieving SDGs especially in education, which is key to progress and sustainability,” he remarked.
He mentioned that parliamentarians are visionary and committed to strengthen the education system and girls education. He urged them to highlight the demand of education at the lower sector and treat education as emergency and especially girls secondary education.
NafeesaKhattak said that the parliament will be engaged to put pressure on the government for notification of the Act. She said that the government had engaged Ulema as well as private schools to encourage their input on the single national curriculum (SNC), yet it needs to enter the implementation phase to achieve education targets. PR
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