Swat to school: Out of workshop, back to school

Army to launch campaign for compulsory education in the valley.

SWAT:

To take all non school-going children aged 5 to 16 back to school, a campaign called ‘Swat to school’ will soon be initiated by the Pakistan army in Swat valley.

“While article 25A, according to the 18th constitutional amendment, declares ‘education free and compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16, in such manner as may be determined by law,’ the majority of parents in Swat unfortunately send their children to workshops instead,” said Major General Javed Iqbal Ramdey, while talking to the media.

“To eradicate child labour from Swat and send all the children to schools is our common responsibility. Innocent children should not be forced to carry out labour,” Ramdey said.

“Under the ‘Swat to School’ campaign, strict legal action will be taken against those parents who do not send their children to schools,” he added.

The army would assist parents who cannot afford to buy books and supplies for their children, Ramdey said, adding that no compromise would be entertained regarding parents who do not send their children to school then.

Child labour in Swat peaked during the insurgency when militants in the valley destroyed schools, prompting fearful parents to stop sending their children to schools altogether.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2011.