Free, compulsory education: 'ECP requires at least one more month'

LAHORE, October 30th: The Education Commission Punjab (ECP) tasked with working on legislation for the implementation of Article 25-A, which makes free and compulsory education a right for children aged 5 to 16, is hoping to present its recommendations in a month.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Schools Education Department Deputy Secretary Qaiser Rasheed said the commission would require at least another month to bring forth a set of recommendations for the implementation of Article 25-A. He said the matter required intense deliberation. ?We have to look in depth at the issues at hand for the provision of compulsory education and the resources at our disposal. It is not as easy,? he said.

Rasheed, who is also serving as secretary to the Finance Committee of the Education Commission, said it was essential that all gaps be addressed by the commission. Last week, the commission had been forwarded the recommendations of the Finance Committee (Resource Allocation Committee), said Rasheed who is tasked with provision of estimates for ensuring enrollment and retention in schools.

He said the Finance Committee had proposed that the existing infrastructure be put to use to facilitate the government in implementing Article 25-A, which also included upgradation of schools.

The commission had been expected to provide its recommendations in September, but at the very first meeting on August 2, its members raised concerns over the deadline.

Chaudhry Javed Ahmad, the chairman of the Standing Committee on Education and member of the Punjab Committee on Consultation with Stakeholders and Public Hearings in the Education Commission, had also expressed doubts that the commission could meet the deadline.

Chaired by Justice (retired) Khalilur Rahman Ramday, the commission was constituted earlier in July through a notification by the School Education Department. The commission consists of five sub-committees on resource allocation, schools education, private education, legal matters and public hearing and consultation with stakeholders and 20 members include the Education minister and secretaries of seven departments.

The commission?s terms of reference (TORs) state that it shall develop an enforcement mechanism for the provision of free and compulsory education under Article 25-A. It will also seek to ensure 100 per cent enrollment and 100 per cent retention in schools, private sector?s role in the provision of compulsory education, focus on early childhood education and also ensure universal birth registration.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30th, 2012.

Source: http://pakistan.childrightsdesk.com/?p=23586

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