Speaking on the occasion‚ Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khurshid Shah said that providing free and compulsory education to children is the basic priority of the government.
He also expressed the hope that after the passage of the bill, the provinces will also follow it.
Dr Azra Fazal said that the bill will go a long way for ensuring compulsory education to the children of the country while Shahnaz Wazir Ali said that the bill has immense significance for the children of the country and for the future generation.
Asiya Nasir said that there is a great need to implement education emergency in the country to meet the growing demand and need of education.
Khushbakht Shujaat congratulated the members of the House on the passage of the bill and said that the Parliament is sincere in promoting education in the country.
The bill has already been passed by the Senate.
A recent UN report noted that Pakistan had the second worst global rate of children out of school with as many as 5.1 million children out of classrooms. Of these, 3 million were females.
According to the report, Pakistan has allocated only 2.3 per cent of the budget for education, which is 0.3 per cent less than in 1999. Nine per cent of government spending is on education, placing Pakistan 113th amongst 120 countries on the Education Development Index.
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So...basically, they are placing less and less emphasis on education as the years go by? Meaning in 20 years they will just be a bunch of imbeciles? Doesn't sound good! Hope this bill actually changes some things.
Well, Its a good step if really implemented.
Congratulation to the people of Pakistan! As an observer I am glad that the next generation of people in Pakistan shall have the opportunity for literacy. The beginning of the new times for the country.
Rex Minor
Free education is good. Compulsory education is also good but very difficult to enforce. However, it children are provided free meals in schools, it would encourage poor families to send their children to schools. It has worked wonders in India. SAARC countries should also learn from Bangladesh. It is also important to ensure that school textbooks are appropriate.
While the intention is good, I tend to agree with @Shakil and @Parvez that the intention will remain on paper unless appropriate budget is allotted to education and needed policy actions are taken to implement this law. Hopefully this is the first step that will drive the rest...
This bill is a useless piece of trash and just a publicity stunt. The Constitution of Pakistan passed in 1973 acknowledges the right to education as basic right of every citizen of this country. If you can't implement what was passed 40 years ago, what use is this exercise going to be???
@Qasim: Allocating funds and pass free & compulsory education bill in NA is just to show that they are very concerned. Believe me nothing is going to happen.It is just a pre election stunt. Have you seen tv programe GHOST SCHOOLS in Punjab. Empty school buildings no children no teachers , animals are roaming around. In one school Mr. Wattoo's SUV is parked in one of the classroom. These politicians are making mockery of education. PMLN,PPP,PMLQ their midset is to loot loo Pakistan ko. Very disappointing,hopeless,third class performance.
We appreciate the this step of PPP govt but mere passing bill is not enough, there is need of taking corresponding actions like improving governance, arresting corruption, appointing teachers on merit and tackling teachers absenteeism which is the major problem being faced by schools across the country. To restore the confidence of parents to send their children to govt. schools, steps should be taken to form Management Committees, consisting of official and civil society members and parents, to look after school affairs.
Nearly 70 years too late, but it is a start.
Its sad that under PMLN govt in Punjab, the number of primary schools is actually decreasing.....punjab govts own statistics
@Imran: 8 students died of Madarsa Anwarul uloom in Gulshan e Iqbal Karachi.
Well the first word in the name of this "school" is alarming. What was the cause of death? A science experiment gone bad? What were they handling, and getting trained on?
@Qasim:
Lets see when this does get implemented
“Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill”** We all appreciate these kinds of measures announced by Government but regret to say that not taken seriously or implemented according to our need.
Here is Todays (13th November 2012) current report of only one city of Sindh "Dadu" (Education Minister's Home City) where 60 schools have left closed, in this City 300 Teachers ghost employees, our Minister for Education who is unable to provide education to his own children in his home, that how?????? he will be able to give education all the nation.
I will not say any thing else just one thing that although our leaders unable to control existing education system where schools are colsed and teachers invisible in real but they are present according to (attendance) registers than how can they make education compulsory.
Now when education matters fall in the provincial jurisdiction, the National Assembly wakes up! Isn't this extra-constitutional measure or perhaps just another show off!
implementation is what matters....
Excellent! A step in the right direction. This is a start. Now provinces have to implement it.
Good news, however, it should be re-worded to include word "quality". For example, "Right to free, compulsory and quality education" Quality of education is very poor and parents will not send their kids to Govt schools even if it is made free and compulsory!!
@Imran: sigh. it is people like you that is the reason i have no hope for this country, badmouthing a young brave girl every chance they get.
They realized to do something about the 'basic priority' of the govt. in the fifth year near the elections, good good!
We dont' need budgets for education. All we need is peace and security for our institutions.
8 students died of Madarsa Anwarul uloom in Gulshan e Iqbal Karachi. None of news channel report it like we supported Malala propaganda.
This bill is peace of paper nothing else.
Passing the Right to free and compulsory education to children( age of 5- 16 years) ha been passed . Very good. But no mention of how to implement it / achieve it.. Must not have estimated the resources required for it like , teachers and expenses related to them, school buildings and strategy to bring the poor children ( who also contribute to family income)to class rooms and lastly Taliban resistance for girls' school. If the govt. displays its dedication and commitment for this cause it will really help the country on long term basis.
finally...although i dont like PPP at all, but this is commendable since it was long due and nobody else bothered to come and approve it. Bravo!!!
Better late than never......
The day a piece of paper will ensure that children actually get educated free in Pakistan, will be the day the sun will rise in the west and set in the east.