National Assembly on Tuesday admitted a bill moved by the opposition to make law for compulsory schooling of every child above the age of six. The bill, moved jointly by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians and Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, was admitted and will be referred to the concerned standing committee.
Yasmeen Rehman, Mehreen Anwar Raja, Samina Khalid Ghurki, of PPP-P and Samia Raheel Qazi, Hanif Abbasi and other MMA members moved the bill for compulsory primary education for every child born after January 1, 2001 and establishment of federal and provincial education boards to implement the law.
The duties of the boards shall be to investigate whether the provisions of this Act have been or are being contravened, to make recommendations to the Secretary/Ministry for the enforcement of the provision of the Act.
The bill recommends penalty and imprisonment for violators and framing of rules and regulations to expedite the purpose of carrying out any provisions of this Act.
The Compulsory Federal Education Board shall consist of five persons, the education minister in the chair, while secretary and three educationists will be members. Constitution of Compulsory Provincial Education Board would be at the discretion of the each chief minister.
Statement of objects and reasons reads that education is the birthright of every child. Education promotes understanding, tolerance and develops human personality. In Islamic teachings, it is provided that education/ knowledge is precious in the universe. Compulsory school attendance will reduce the child labour ratio.
In developing countries, this type of legislation is very much needed and it will get good support at all the international forums. Since the object of the compulsory school attendance would be that all children be educated, it concluded.
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