Silver bullet: ‘Education should be free and compulsory’

As many as 10 lawmakers invited to seminar; none show up

PESHAWAR: Free and compulsory education is the only way to bring children who dropped out back to school and increase the overall enrolment rate. This was said by speakers at a consultative session on Wednesday.

The event was organised by NGO Community Research and Development Organisation (CRDO). The seminar was attended by numerous educationists, scholars and civil society representatives.

The speakers said within 24 months the number of out-of-school children in the province may double and the implementation of Article 25-A (Right to Education) of the Constitution is the only way the government can prevent this from happening.

Not present

According to CRDO programme manager Mir Zaman Khan, as many as 10 lawmakers were invited to the event but not one turned up.

He said according to the provincial law department, a bill regarding the implementation of Article 25-A was sent to the education department on February 26, 2015 for revision.

The programme manager said the NGO has made multiple attempts to make an appointment with Minister for Education Muhammad Atif Khan and share its findings with him but the minister just wouldn’t see them.

Society for the Protection of the Rights of Children K-P manager Khalid Mehmood was of the view that all problems associated with the sector take root in the increasing dropout rate. “It is the key reason behind staff absenteeism,” he maintained.

Mehmood said teachers are forced to serve during vaccination campaigns and elections at the expense of the academic process.

Talking on the occasion, Peace Education and Development Foundation office-bearer Tariq Hayat Khan said the National Assembly passed an education bill in December 2012 but the provincial government is yet to legislate on the subject.

“Empty slogans and announcements of an education emergency bear little fruit. The government should take practical steps to bring K-P’s 2.5 million children back to school,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2015.