President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law “The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2012” to ensure provision of free education to children aged between 5-16 years.
A special signing ceremony held at the Chief Minister House on Wednesday was attended among others by the governor and the chief minister Sindh, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, senior officials and people from cross section of society. Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was also present during the signing ceremony.
Congratulating the parliament and all political forces on the enactment of “The Right to Free and Compulsory Education Bill 2012” into law, the President said, Act would go a long way in ensuring free and compulsory education to the children of the country.
He said that it was a historic day for the people of the country as the government has fulfilled the promise of protecting all fundamental rights after declaring education as the basic right of the citizens.
The president said that under the law the federal government would now provide free textbooks and uniform to the children in the areas of its jurisdiction besides ensuring that no child is deprived of admission in school and that schools have qualified teachers.
Free pre-school education, early childhood care and free medical and dental inspection would be provided to all citizens and no child will now be subjected to corporal punishment or mental harassment, the president remarked and added that government will also create the professional cadre of teachers to promote quality education.
He said that no fee including admission fee will be charged from the students and that government will provide school buildings, playgrounds, laboratories and other facilities.
Under the law, the private schools will be required to provide free education to the disadvantaged students to the extent of ten percent of the class, the president said and added that school management committees will be established which will collaborate with the community for persuading parents to send their children to schools.
The president said that, as part of government’s initiative for promotion of education in the country educational awards will be instituted for teachers, educational administrators and researchers.
The president said that government accords priority to the implementation of this Bill and also advised the government for making rules on urgent basis under this Bill to implement its true spirit.
He said that we will honour our international commitments and will achieve the targets set in Education for All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and added that Islamabad Capital Territory will be made a role model in education sector for the provinces.
President Asif Zardari said that the government would continue to work for the promotion of education in the country as education holds key to socio-economic development and fighting the militant mindset.
The president said that the government preferred consensus decision over the decisions taken by the majority in order to take onboard all the stakeholders of the country on the issue of national interest.
Though it was a difficult path to follow but it carried great benefits for the nation and the country, the president said in his speech.
