‘Enforce Free, Compulsory Education Act’

Punjab legislatures on Friday demanded enactment of Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act 2014 in letter and spirit. This is alarming to note that free and compulsory education Act 2014 has yet to be notified under Section-A, sub-section III. This is further alarming that rules of business of the important law under Section 24 have also not been prepared yet.

Talking to the legislatures, chief executive of an NGO said, education is a fundamental human right and every child is entitled to it after right to life and food. The country’s Constitution under its Article 37-B lays down that “State shall be responsible for eradication of illiteracy and provision of free and compulsory education up to secondary level, within minimum possible time”. Further, the Constitution also says under its Article 25A “The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children from five to 16 years of age in such manner as may be determined by law.” According to Pakistan Education Statistics 2015-2016 published by National Education Management Information System, Academy of Educational Planning & Management, Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training Islamabad, of the 22.8 million out-of-school children in Pakistan, more than 50 percent are girls. The ratio of out-of-school girls varies; Balochistan 70pc, FATA 74pc, Sindh 61pc, Gilgit-Baltistan 53pc, AJK 52pc, KPK 50pc and Punjab 40pc. The NGO conducted a study that reveals that high schools for girls in South Punjab are half of that in north Punjab whereas the number of Masjid Maktab schools is five times greater in south Punjab than in northern districts.