ISLAMABAD: Speakers at a seminar on Thursday urged the government for the implementation of Article 25-A of the Constitution, which guarantees free and compulsory education for all children aged between five and 16 years.

Idara-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) hosted the citizens’ dialogue to relate Article 25-A (right to education) with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG4 on quality education.

Suneel Malik from the Centre for Social Justice and Professor A. H. Nayyar provided insights into challenges with regards to the implementation of Article 25-A.

Currently, the country has over 25 million out of children schools and the government is showing its interest to overcome this challenge.

Experts say there is an enormous budgetary challenge to enrol the out-of-school children

Prof Nayyar said there was an enormous budgetary challenge to enroll the out of school children and to overcome the challenge the government should go for double shifts in public sector schools. He said the government was also considering utilising non-formal educational schools which, according to him, was not an ideal decision as non-formal education system was not a proper system.

The event was organised in collaboration with Open Societies Foundations (OSF) and United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).

ITA’s chief Baela Raza Jamil introduced the RTE Acts of provinces/ICT, highlighting Article 25-A and the essentials of SDG4. Education youth ambassadors of the NGO working nationwide were represented by Huma Shakir from Swat and Abdul Karim Soomro and Naresh Kumar from Sukkur. They provided testimonies of the important work that had been carried out in their areas.

A panel discussion on accelerating implementation of 25-A and SDG4 focused on reviewing existing 25-A laws, the gaps and the effectiveness of efforts made thus far.

The panel was moderated by Mosharraf Zaidi and included Tahira Abdullah (social activist), Takako Osimoto (UNHCR) and Nargis Sultan.

The panel was later joined by Shahid Naeem of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reforms and Kanwal Shauzab, Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, Development and Reforms.

Mr Naeem said education must be made relevant to encourage parents to send their children to school. Skills must be factored into curriculums and merged with learning standards.

Ms Kanwal spoke on gender and cultural and societal norms. “There is a capacity issue in many government schools which results in preferential treatment towards sons over daughters, proving that the issues arise in the supply of education, not the demand.”

Published in Dawn, December 28th, 2018