Educational reforms: Government urged to implement Article 25-A in Fata

Speakers at seminar have urged the government to take meaningful steps to implement Article 25-A, Right to Education in Federally Administered Tribal Areas to ensure free and compulsory education facility for all in the tribal region. The seminar on titled: 'Education for All" was organised by the Tribal Youth Development Society (TYDS) at Peshawar Press Club on Tuesday. Notable speakers included the society chairman, Karim Mehsud Advocate, women right activist, Malik Kinza Iqtedar, Fata Student Federation Kurram Agency president, Zahid Shah, social activist Dr Zahid Khan, PTI Orakzai Agency president Gul Mohammad, Khyber Youth Jirga leader, Aamir Afridi, the TYDS coordinator from Orakzai Agency Iftikhar Hussain and others.
Besides, the TYDS office bearers, Bahadur Wazir, Asim Orakzai, Farooq Shah Bangash, members of civil society, lawyers, social activists and people from different walks of life were present at the seminar.
Iftikhar Hussain pointed out that ratio of girls enrollment in Fata is very low due to lack of proper awareness. He stressed the need for removing gender-discrimination and to ensure equal education opportunity for both male and female in the tribal region. He also called for brining improvement in the existing education standard in Fata.
He informed that a total of 6,000 educational institutions have been established in Fata, out of which 1,000 are closed due to different reasons, including militancy and lack of proper facilities. He demanded of the government to take proactive measures to ensure adequate facility at the state-run schools in the tribal region.
Malik Kinza Iqtedar said the establishment of sustainable peace is vital for promotion of education activities in the tribal region.
Karim Mehsud said the education situation is going from bad to worst with each passing day particularly in Fata and generally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the performance of 'state-run schools' is poor as compared to private educational institutions in the province.
Aamir Afridi said that it was prime responsibility of the government to ensure best education facility to all in the tribal region. He voiced concern over absence of teachers from duties in Fata.
Other speakers including Zahir Shah, Dr Zahid Khan, Gul Mohammad, Bahadur Wazir, Asim Orakzai, and Farooq Shah Bangash urged the government to take efforts steps for promotion of education activities, trade and economic activities as well as rebuilding of damaged education and road infrastructure in the all tribal agencies.
They also said to ensure attendance of teachers, basic facilities in schools. They added the efforts measures should be taken for establishment of durable peace, poverty reduction, and better coordination between teachers and parents in Fata.