Schoolchildren want free education for all

KARACHI: Foundation for Research and Human Development (FRHD) on Wednesday held a walk from Scout Headquarters to Karachi Press Club to press the government for implementation of Article 25-A in all government schools.
Around 400 schoolchildren, carrying placards and banners, raised slogans for free education.
Speaking to media, FHRD Executive Director Nazra Jahan said children gathered outside the club to realise the government that education is human right and state’s responsibility, therefore, the government should take serious measures to improve it.
She said in Sindh, there are 49,605 primary and higher secondary institutions and out of them, 91% are primary followed by middle schools at 5.4%, secondary schools 3.3% and higher secondary 0.5%. Nazra added, “About 6.1 million children, aged 5 to 16, are out of school in Sindh out of its 12.1 million children population. Net Enrollment Rate (NER) in government schools across Sindh stands at 52% in primary schools.”
Nazra said Sindh Assembly passed the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2013, but unfortunately rules had not been framed still. She said Sindh government should take necessary actions for enforcement of the Act.
She said the government should activate School Management Committee (SMC) in every public school with students’ representation so that students could take part in improving their conditions.
Speaking about the curriculum and syllabus, Nazra said the government and Board of Academic Studies should take immediate steps to exclude hate and biased content from syllabus and design curriculum according to the modern needs for a better education system.
A girl student said that gender discrimination is rampant in schools in rural and underprivileged areas of the province. She asked the government to provide conducive environment for better education and provide adequate security to children.
During walk, scout children also played a drum to draw attention of people towards their education and security issues.

Source: Daily Times