The way forward: Parties united on prioritising education

There is a need to devise actionable steps to prioritise education and their incorporation in each political party’s manifesto is also necessary. This was the consensus among participants of a discussion on education held at a local hotel here on Monday, said a press release issued by Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agahi (ITA), a non-governmental organisation. Representatives of major political parties, together with youth parliamentarians and members of the civil society participated in the event, “Consultation with Political Parties to Prioritize Education and Implement Article 25 A” held by ITA. Addressing the participants, Senator Tariq Azeem emphasised on the need to understand the practical implications of Article 25 A - “compulsory” education and the penalty of not sending a child to school. ITA Director Programmes Baela Raza Jamil highlighted the gaps in learning and enrolment pointed out by the Annual Status of Education Report 2011, while youth parliamentarians Atiq Khokhar and Yasir Riaz, stressed on the need to promote local languages at a school level.


Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2012.