Advocacy campaigns for right to education urged

Islamabad:Speakers at a workshop urged the media to start advocacy campaigns for people’s right to education under Article 25-A of the 18th Amendment which makes education a fundamental right of every citizen.

The workshop was organised by the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) for Journalists reporting on education especially around the insertion of Article 25-A in the constitution.

A good number of journalists from print and electronic media attended the workshop. Joint Director of CPDI Zaighum Khan, District Coordinator of CPDI Syed Kausar Abbas, central spokesperson of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sadaqat Ali Abbasi and representatives Education Task Force (ETF) Sana Khalid chaired the session.

Coordinator of CPDI Syed Kausar Abbas introduced the participants about 18th Amendment and its implications on the education sector. He quoted some examples of negligence by education department in Rawalpindi and briefed the participants on the bill presented by S.M. Zafar in the Parliament and writ petition launched by CPDI in Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, and Islamabad High Court.

Abbas said that the media can play an important role for implementation of this law. He stressed that media should start advocacy campaigns for people’s right to education under Article 25-A of the 18th Amendment.

Director of CPDI Zaighum Khan introduced the audience about Article 25-A. He also gave brief insight about civic and legal action to ensure education in Pakistan in the light of 25-A. He said that after 18th Amendment, it is the responsibility of government to ensure free education to every children of Pakistan up to metric level. “Now after 18th Amendment, if the government is showing negligence in providing free education to its people, public can challenge their right in court,” he pointed out.

Representatives Education Task Force (ETF) Khalid briefed the participants about the fruitful work done by the ETF. She said that ETF launched Education Emergency in Pakistan. “The ETF is working on creating awareness about importance of education and providing free education to every child. In this regard use of modern media techniques and social networking sights have really helped them a lot,” she said.

Sadaqat Ali Abbasi shared PTI’s views regarding education and Article 25-A. He said that media should give more coverage to the educational matters. “Media can play a vital role in creating awareness about the educational issues,” he added.The news.