One day Provincial Advocacy Seminar Right to Education
It’s My Right, Make it Right
“It’s my Right; Make it Right” is a national campaign of civil society organizations on Education in Pakistan. One day provincial level seminar was organized in Karachi as a part of the national campaign in partnership with Oxfam GB, and Dubai Care. The main purpose of the event was to sensitize officials of provincial education department and civil society members about Right to Education –particularly importance of girl’s education in the province. Article 25-A (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) of Constitution of Pakistan clearly holds state responsible for the provision of free and quality education to all in the country.
SPO actively engaged writers, intellectuals, official from education department, civil society members, school management Committee members, mediaand other stakeholders and provided them with a platform for raising their concerns, suggestion and areas of improvement for the delivery of quality education in Sindh.CEO SPO Mr. NaseerMemon, Ex-Federal Minister Mr. Jawed Jabbar, Educationist Madam Sadiqa Sallahudin,Regional Head SPO Hyderabad Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Balouch. Associate country director of OGB Dr. Manzoor Ahmed Awan and Head of Girls Education Program Mr. Saeed-ul-Hassan addressed and shared their views with the audience.
CE SPO Mr. Naseer Memon said that education in rural part of the province is in worst condition especially for girls.Through this little initiative SPO tried to develop 14 schools as model and all stakeholders should replicate it for the provision of quality Education across the province.
Ex-Federal Minister Mr. Jawed Jabbar emphasized on the role of provincial governments after 18th amendment. It is the prime responsibility of provincial governments to ensure quality education to the citizens across the board, he added.
Educationist Ms. SadiqaSallahudin expressed her views and concerns about the challenges and issues of education in rural Sindh. She suggested that teachers association should revise its strategy for the advocacy for the enforcement of right to education laws in the province.
Oxfam Associate Country Director Dr. Manzoor Ahmed Awanshared with the audience that after the recurrent disasters in Pakistan, international community supported local CSOs for the rehabilitation of schools.He further said that the responsibility lies on the shoulders of local stakeholders towards the sustainabilityof improved schools,he also appreciated the advocacy campaign of SPO.
Regional Head of SPO Hyderabad Mr. Ghulam Mustafa Baloch presented snapshot of SPO’s interventions in education. Mr. Saeed ul Hassan Head of Girls Education Program at Oxfam welcomed the participants and introduced the salient features of national education campaign. He also appreciated SPO’s work on Right to Education through service delivery and advocacy campaign.
Recommendations
Participants unanimously passed the following recommendations for Provincial Government and other stakeholders;
- Awareness among multiple stakeholders should be raised about Pakistani laws like (Article 25-A,Sindh Education Act 2013 , Sindh freedom information Act 2006& 18th amendment)
- Strengthen and enhancing the Role & Responsibilities of School Management Committees and School councils for ensuring quality education.
- Gender sensitive budgeting should be a regular feature of education department and additional funds should be allocated for Girls Education in the province.
- SPO’s disaster resilient model Schools in Taluka Johi should be replicated and scaled up in other parts of the province.
- Curriculum/syllabus of schools should be revised with consultation of local teachers and other stakeholders.
- Provision of learning Material in pre-schooling.
- Construction of school buildings should be more resilient towards future disasters.
- Number of female teacher should be increased proportionately with the number of girls students in the province.
- Special measure should be taken for 60 girls schools of Johi-Dadu
- Upgrading primary schools up to middle or high level where higher numbers of girls are enrolled.
- Updating SEMIS with all the possible information about disable children and make special arrangements for them.
- DRR & climate change should be a part of school curriculum starting from primary level of education.