DESTROYING OUT FUTURE
#educationforall
#educationfirst
#article25a
30 million children are out of schools, a report published in January 2019 reveals. This is the second-largest number in the world, UNICEF Reports. Unfortunately, the given number is rising with the passage of time. The report does not speak out the quality of education, it only tells about those children who never enroll in any type of school. Series of campaigns to increase enrollments in public schools have been observed but where is the impact of efforts made in this regard, nobody knows.
Article 25-A of the constitution of Pakistan says "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". Moreover, Pakistan is one of 194 countries signed and endorsed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The budget of the current fiscal year showing an imperceptible rise in the education budget with 2.5% as compared to 2019-2020. Even then, a large percentage of children are growing without literacy. Is the allocated budget not enough to the mainstream education system or corruption is supporting us to destroy our future?
"The government has reserved Rs. 2.931 billion for pre-Primary & Primary Education Affairs for 2020-2 against Rs. 2.83 billion for 2019-20, Rs. 7.344 billion reserved for Secondary Education Affairs & Services for 2020-21 against Rs. 6.718 billion for 2019-20, Rs. 1.237 billion for administration against Rs. 1.407 billion for 2019-20 which was later amended to Rs. 727 million. According to the Human Development Report, 2019 Pakistan is ranked 152 out of 189 countries in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Index (HDI) ranking. Pakistan has not demonstrated any progress in key educational indicators, such as literacy rate, gross enrolment ratio, and expenditure on education, as compared to the adjoining regional territories.
Pakistan’s literacy rate, at 57%, straggle well behind its bordering countries. The primary school dropout rate is 22.7% which is alarming given it as at the stage of developmental learning. Pakistan has not made sufficient progress in enhancing educational outcomes. A literacy rate of only 60% (40% of its population remains unable to read or write) significantly restricts the opportunities towards obtaining additional skills and technical knowledge for higher efficiency and finer-earning levels. Gross Enrolment Rates (GER) at the primary level excluding kindergarten for the age group 6-10 years at the national level during 2018-19 persisted at 87% as compared to 2015-16".
Indeed it depends on the priority of the state. Our governments have not been prioritizing the education sector since 1947. Giving permission to investors to sell education is not a healthy gesture of any state but ensuring the constitutional commitment made by the state with citizens is the duty of the state. Further investment in public education institutions, building the capacity of deployed human resource, offering incentives to motivate parents and teachers, and above all, prioritizing the development of service delivery mechanisms in the public education system is required from the state. Investing further without strategic planning and public accountability is an open invitation to vultures to eat the deceased animals.
Addressing root causes of poverty while setting up the agenda of education for all would add a feather in a cap. Adding more in poverty alleviation funds-basket will surely reduce the economic disparities of citizens and alternatively, they will start educating their children instead of sending them to do labor. It all depends on the prioritizes of the state and without educating children, a state cannot be sovereign state. Internal threats are more dangerous and fatal than external, gluing the citizen with state affairs is hard but is better for the overnight of the state. If the state wants a responsible nation that fulfills legitimate duties then the state needs to invest morally and financially in service delivery. Balancing supply and demand has become imperative for Pakistan. Streamlining of health and education by limiting the role of private operators is required.
Comments
Post a Comment