Political Parties Urged To Take Measures For Educational Reforms

News Desk

Islamabad: Independent education policy experts, government stakeholders and political parties agreed on introducing reforms for more inclusive and equitable quality education while speaking at a conference on ‘Mapping the Educational Reforms in View of the Next Democratic Tenure’.

The Center for Social Justice (CSJ), in collaboration with Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), organised the conference.

Dr Shoaib Suddle mentioned that the government has been violating order No. 2 of the Jillani judgment (SMC 1 of 2014, etc.) and Article 22(1) of the constitution because the school curriculum and textbooks of compulsory subjects like Urdu, English, and Social Studies carry substantial content relating to the religious instruction of the majority religion, compelling non-Muslim students to learn Islamiyat in all courses.

Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Dr Baela Raza Jamil said that Pakistan remains lowest on key indicators of SDG 4 in South Asia, failing to live up to Article 25-A– a fundamental constitutional right to education.In spite of progressive manifestos, political parties repeatedly fall short of delivering what they promised, compromising, excluding, and crippling the lives of millions of children, especially girls and marginalized groups, Dr Baela Raza added.

The political parties must promise in their election manifestos to enhance allocation to education by 6 percent of GDP, stated Dr A. H. Nayyar.

Prof Yaqoob Khan Bangash told that there has to be social interaction among students from majority and minority communities inside and outside classrooms to promote inclusion, pluralism and diversity.

Saima Anwer said that school curricula and textbooks should focus on promoting inclusion, diversity, critical thinking, and learning outcomes. Moreover, minorities should have access to suitable alternatives to compulsory Islamic education.

Haqooq-e-Khalq Party President Dr Ammar Ali Jan added that there is a need to allow critical thinking on campuses only if we stop viewing education through a security lens and start treating universities as sites for dialogue and debate. Moreover, we must plan our economy to ensure a university-job pipeline, Ali Jan further added.

Recommendations
The endorsing political stakeholders and civil society organizations recommend some of the following measures for improving the quality of education in Pakistan:

1. Increasing allocations on education up to 6 per cent of GDP to fulfil the constitutional guarantee of Article 25-A and achieve targets under Sustainable Development Goal No. 4 encompassing the right to education and learning for all.

2. Ensuring accountability and transparency through assessment of budget allocations and utilization, as well as ensuring timely disbursements to schools.

3. Introducing institutional reforms to enhance coordination among government departments dealing with education and skills, for improving their performance and accountability.

4. Ensuring due consultation with relevant civil society stakeholders for the transparency of the processes involved in policy-making.

5. Establish a Cross-Party Caucus on Inclusive Education with representation from all political parties to strengthen the narrative on inclusion by raising it on the floor of the house and within different political party ranks.