Education reform: Zardari signs free education bill into law
The bill, which sought to ensure all children between five to 16 years of age are provided free education, was signed in a special ceremony held at the Chief Minister House in Karachi. Terming the day historic, the President said, “In pursuit of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s vision of free and compulsory education, the government has fulfilled yet another promise made to the people.”
Congratulating the Parliament and other political forces for the bill’s enactment into law, he urged provincial governments to promulgate similar legislations in their respective assemblies as well. He said the responsibility for providing free education rests with both federal and provincial governments, referring to article 25-A of the Constitution.
Elaborating upon the newly signed law, President Zardari said the federal government will now provide free textbooks and uniforms to children and ensure schools have qualified teachers. Free pre-school education, early childhood care and free medical and dental inspection will also be provided to all citizens and no child will be subjected to corporal punishment
“Under the law, private schools will be required to provide free education to disadvantaged students, who will comprise 10% of each class,” Zardari said, adding that school management committees will be established to persuade parents into sending their children to schools.
“We will honour our international commitments and achieve the targets set by the Education for All and Millennium Development Goals initiatives. Islamabad Capital Territory will be a role model in the education sector for the provinces.”
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it look a drama near the election
The policy-institutions -society nexus provides perfct combination to assess n dvlp a country...the legislation hs done its part n nw it z left to the institutions n societal structures to ennsure d implementation...
"President Asif Ali Zardari signed ‘The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2012’ into law on Wednesday." Very strangely and interestingly @2.5% in total budget whereas in other countries for education approximately 5% is fixed and would leaders',ministers',bureaucrats',elite and privileged class' people children like to get education in the government's schools free of cost or the government schools are made only for common and poor man's children????
I think the criticism on PPP for signing the bill is unfair. How can signing a bill be an election eye-wash. I think PPP deserves for the legislation work during the 5 year tenure. This includes 18th amendment, NFC award and FATA Bill as the major ones. (The main problem with them has been the implementation. I agree on that)
The political opponents of this govt say that the majority of the population has nothing to do with these bills as they don't provide tangibles to them. So how does the signing of bill to make it a law becomes an eyewash is my question.
The PPP has failed in the implementation part and hopefully the next government (whether PTI or PML-N) can carry this good work and make the free education a reality. But for time being, PPP must be given the credit for this.
After passing of this bill, all children between the age of 5 to 16 will remain education-free!
It is a very good step. I do not think money would be the problem. IIf there is sincerity, transparency and more importantly proper curriculum, international community will surely step forward to provide assistance.
Haters are going to hate anyway. Well done PPP and Well done President Zardari !
Why this Law after the completion of 5 year rule of PPP's recent government and overall 17 years of PPP government run by different Bhuttos (Zulfiqar, Benazir, Asif) ?? Eyewash !!
Free compulsory education was annouced by Zulfi Bhutto nearly 40 years ago. PPP is recycling what has been done by previous governments such as Pervaiz Elahi in Punjabi in the recent past. Why it is happening when the PPP government's 5 years term is just 3 months away to end. BB's vision took so long to reach to the PPP government and the President House. just another PPP lollipop
Bitter truth is government schools once were quality education providing centers but for last few decades, with emergence of private school lobby and massive corruption in the process of hiring new teachers; Government schools are on death bed. First thing to start with is about hiring process, make hiring process transparent, competitive and free from corruption and nepotism.
I cannot believe it. Hope this is not a election ploy as in the past. What present coalition government of PPP and its friends said is totally different from what they did in the last 5 years. I am part of the 2002 initiative NCHD or National Commission for Human Development, a public-private initiative set up to meet MDG 2015. Now we are 10 years behind meeting this goal due to lack of required funding from the government.
IN YOUR FACE...
Another way the government, which doesn't provide adequate education services to enough children, is passing the buck to the private sector. It's not a bad step entirely though and could do well, but will likely drive the cost of private education up since the government clearly won't give schools a tax break.
What about teacher training? We need to have trained teachers to teach the kids!
@Subah it's never too late for ALLAH (SWT). Work hard(do ur bit) and ALLAH per Eman :)
Free education via borrowed money. I can't wait for this government to meet its demise.
Isn't it too late to realize Bibi's dream?
The only reason this is done is because of elections. A cheap ploy to add to their 'accomplishments'!
They can sign and pass a thousand bills. They are not worth the piece of paper they are written on as they will never be implemented.
This has to be a joke.