Ahsan Iqbal launches national enrollment drive
Minister PD&R Prof Ahsan Iqbal is of the opinion that education is not only an international obligation on Pakistan, it is necessary for development. The Vision 2025 underlines the need for developing knowledge economy. Pakistan has been graded among countries having highest number of the Out of School Children (OOSC). 24 million children and students, up to the intermediate level, are to be enrolled. By enrolling maximum number of the OOSC, a knowledge revolution can be ensured in the country. Although education has been devolved to the provinces under the 18th Constitutional amendment, but under Article 25-A of the Constitution, the federal government cannot be absolved of its responsibility. The federal government and provinces should employ well-coordinated efforts to achieve the targets.
The main idea to hold the National Enrolment Drive emanated from a previous experience of the similar nature, organised on the International Literacy Day on September 8, 1999. It was decided to enrol one lakh OOSC, but 876,000 students of elementary level got enrolled. Keeping in mind the same experience and spirit, the National Enrolment Drive is being planned - to be initiated from the coming April 1 to April 30 - with cooperation of the provincial governments, civil society and other stakeholders. Some of initiatives to attract and enrol the OOSC are:
Provide gifts to the new enrolled children. Awareness among parents and children through print and electronic media. Media houses to be requested for public messages as their social responsibility and national cause
Involvement of the PEMRA for media awareness. Community mobilisation to an important element for the enrolment drive. Motivation and mobilisation of all resources - excluding financial budget - with missionary spirit
The Drive will be patronised from the highest level including Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Senators, MNAs, and MPAs. All public representatives, along with District Education Officers will visit their electorate, and get one child enrolled. Similarly, the private sector will also be involved through the FPCCI and provincial chambers of commerce and industry. Students of the elite school systems will contribute one gift pack for each newly enrolled student. The government is heading very fast to touch three per cent of the GDP for the education budget, and hoping that soon the target of four per cent of the GDP for education will get materialised.
The education conditions in Balochistan are not promising since the society is largely nomadic society and educational facilities hardly exist in the far flung areas. The education budget has been increased up to 24 per cent, and the plan is to enrol about 160,000 to 400,000 children this year. The Balochistan government offers Rs500 at the time of admission and then Rs200 per month along with free books. At present 0.89 million children are enrolled in schools, and still 1.1 million are the OOSC. Efforts are to increase number of the middle schools. The admission policy has been revised, and boys and girls are allowed to be enrolled at the primary level.
Gilgit-Baltistan is a mountainous community, but has better enrolment position than other provinces. In areas like Diamer, it is impossible to open girls' schools, and 75 home schools have been opened for girls. G-B is facing problems of resettlement of the Internally Displace Persons (IDPs), and their Children are also accommodated in our schools. As an incentive, the GB government has given subsidy in wheat to those families which send their children to schools. Monitoring teams have been constituted to monitor enrolment independently.
12 million children have been enrolled in the Punjab, and the target is 100 per cent by 2018 under the ' Parho Punjab, Barho Punjab' programme. Rs650 is an average enrolment cost per year.
In Sindh, the enrolment campaign will be initiated up to intermediate level as per the SDGs requirement. A Complaint Management System has been established, and data of complainants is computerised to contact parents and complainants.