Free education: Edu secretary accused of ignoring court orders
Sindh High Court focused on providing basic primary education
Sindh High Court pays heed to masses' call for free education. PHOTO: AFP
KARACHI:
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has called the education secretary on March 11 to explain why its earlier orders to provide free compulsory education to all children by the government had not been complied with, even after nine months.
In 2012, the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), Aurat Foundation and other groups had gone to the court seeking implementation of Article 25-A of the constitution, which makes it compulsory for the state to provide free education to the children from five to 16 years. “It is not a discretionary right,” the petition stated. “It is the fundamental right of every child to get compulsory education free, which the government cannot refuse to provide.”
On May 2, 2012, the SHC had directed the secretary to constitute a committee to work out a mechanism to provide free compulsory education, establish schools and provide books and make suggestions for budgetary allocations for this task. On Monday, Siddiqui informed the judges that no progress was made, as the committee constituted on court’s order had not even met once to discuss the matter. He pleaded the court initiate contempt proceedings against the education secretary.
Headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar, the bench issued notice to the education secretary.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.
The Sindh High Court (SHC) has called the education secretary on March 11 to explain why its earlier orders to provide free compulsory education to all children by the government had not been complied with, even after nine months.
In 2012, the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), Aurat Foundation and other groups had gone to the court seeking implementation of Article 25-A of the constitution, which makes it compulsory for the state to provide free education to the children from five to 16 years. “It is not a discretionary right,” the petition stated. “It is the fundamental right of every child to get compulsory education free, which the government cannot refuse to provide.”
On May 2, 2012, the SHC had directed the secretary to constitute a committee to work out a mechanism to provide free compulsory education, establish schools and provide books and make suggestions for budgetary allocations for this task. On Monday, Siddiqui informed the judges that no progress was made, as the committee constituted on court’s order had not even met once to discuss the matter. He pleaded the court initiate contempt proceedings against the education secretary.
Headed by Justice Maqbool Baqar, the bench issued notice to the education secretary.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 6th, 2013.