Education legislation: Final draft surprises standing committee chairperson

LAHORE:

Speaking at a dialogue Learning Challenges and Inclusion of All, organised by the Idara-i-Taleem Aagahi and Pakistan Coalition for Education, Qamar-ul-Islam Raja expressed his reservations about the final draft of Article 25-A to the School Education Department representatives present. Article 25-A ensures compulsory education a right for children between ages five and 16. “As chairman of the committee, I am surprised to see the draft of Article 25-A in its final form.

Although the content is similar to what the committee has already deliberated, we have not received a copy of the bill drafted in this manner”, he said. Copies of the draft approved by the cabinet were circulated at the dialogue. Raja also said there appeared to be no intention to delay legislation.

He said that several issues needed to be addressed, such as social trends, poverty, capacity building and limited government resources. He said the government had only recruited 14,000 teachers out of the 39,000 posts it had advertised.  Raja said that in the past politicians had taken grants to construct buildings that failed to function as schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 6^th, 2014.