THIS is apropos Moeed Yusuf’s article ‘No room for diversity’ (Dec 17). The writer has expounded suppression of diverse views and intolerance due to least interaction between students of three parallel systems in Pakistan. I agree with the writer’s viewpoint. On March 11, the Sindh government promulgated the Sindh Right of Children to Free Education Act 2013, thereby in chapter two it includes an important provision which says:

“Privately-owned or -managed schools shall also provide free education to all students between the age of five and 16 years who are at least 10 pc of the actual strength of students.”

According to the Sindh Education Management Information System, there are 1.6 million children who attend private schools. With the enforcement of the above-mentioned provision, Sindh is supposed to have 0.16 million disadvantaged children getting free education. But in reality it is not so.

As this falls into the category of fundamental rights, I request the Sindh chief minister and the chief justice of the Sindh High Court to take notice of the situation and immediately order the implementation of the Act.

It would not only result in mitigating intolerance and lack of promotion of diverse views, but will also bring the child of the rich and the poor on the same desk with a chance for the latter to have quality education.

Zakaullah Mirbahar
Khairpur Mirs