Senate Standing Committee on Education would hold a special meeting to discuss implementation of law providing for free education up to sixteen years, as per 18th amendment on July 12 (Monday). Under newly inserted Article 25 A in 18th amendment of the Constitution, the government has necessitated free and compulsory education to all children aged five to sixteen years.
The representatives from federal and all four provincial education ministries will attend the meeting and sort out ways and means to implement this fundamental right.
The members of private organisations including Senior National Specialist (Education), Unesco, Arshad Saeed and National Co-ordinator, Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) Zehra Arshad will give their inputs and suggestions. Talking to this news agency, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Education S M Zafar said the meeting will frame the law to deal with all the essential steps for implementing the rights of free education.
He further said it is yet to be ascertained whether this newly passed law would also be applicable for the private educational institutions as well or not.
He quoted newly inserted article 25 A of the constitution which states that "The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law".
The challenges are ominous but they require more commitment from the political leadership to execute the dream of free education.
After NFC award, provinces and local governments should take the lead on issues like lower literacy rate and parallel education system, said S M Zafar.