Author Topic: A conference, entitled ‘Right to Education at Karachi University  (Read 488 times)

Offline sb

  • Good Member Group
  • Hero Member
  • **
  • Posts: 29120
  • My Points +5/-0
  • Gender: Female
A conference, entitled ‘Right to Education at Karachi University
Karachi:26 April:The National Education Policy 2017, as well as that of 2009, is in contradiction to the Constitution of Pakistan. The policy also violates international covenants and curbs the right to religious freedom, especially of the minorities.
These views were expressed by academicians, law experts and human right defenders at a conference, entitled ‘Right to Education without Discrimination’, organised by the Centre for Social Justice in collaboration with Pakistan Study Centre, Karachi University, and the Peace and Development Organisation held at KU on Wednesday.

The discussion was led by panelists Dr Syed Jaffar Ahmed, former director of Pakistan Study Centre; Rana Asif Habib, head of the Initiator Human Development Foundation; Peter Jacob, director of the Centre for Social Justice; and Dr Safia Urooj of KU.

Dr Jaffar Ahmed said the vision of the founders of Pakistan was based on a modern and sovereign state. The media was playing a role in spreading religious extremism and hatred, and a class-based society made a class-based education system, he remarked.

The panelists said the education policy of 2009 not only violated articles 20, 22 and 25 of the constitution, but also contravened international human rights law as described in the constitution under articles 14 and 29 on the rights of the child. The policy also violated Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as Article 18 (4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

They said the government had adopted the National Education Policy 2017 that was blind towards incorporating diversity and needs of minorities.

The panelists said the new policy relied on articles 31 and 25-A (Islamic way of life, right to free and compulsory education) of the constitution, but it ignored the constitutional guarantees under articles 20, 22 and 36 for religious freedom, safeguards against discrimination in educational institutions with respect to religion and protection of the rights of religious minorities.

The policy was a replica of the previous one in the sense that it failed to curb religious discrimination, they added.

The participants discussed further that the education policy and textbooks in Pakistan contained several discriminations on the basis of religion. As a result, the religious minorities lagged behind in national average in literacy (Christians 11 per cent and Hindus 20 per cent), according to the national population census 1998.

In order to promote religious tolerance, national cohesion and accommodate religious diversity, the speakers and participants urged the federal and provincial governments to consider implementing some key measures as early as possible for improvement in the education system.

They suggested that the Quaid-e-Azam’s speech of August 11, 1947, to the constituent assembly should be included in the syllabi for schools and colleges. They asked the governments to ensure that the Supreme Court’s order of June 19, 2014, for promoting peace and a culture of religious and social tolerance was complied with. It was also demanded that the federal and provincial governments should provide a special educational plan to enhance literacy among the religious minorities and other groups, keeping in view their economic and social marginalisation.

Furthermore, the educational institutions nationalised for around 35 years should be provided with adequate compensatory funds to enhance their capacity and operations.

In order to make the policy of a 5 per cent job quota successful, there was a need to introduce an equivalent quota in admissions for the minority students, especially in colleges, universities and technical training institutes, they said. They suggested that the teachers’ training, school environment and co-curricular activities should be designed to maintain respect for all religious traditions, values and acceptance for religious diversity in Pakistan.The news.
If you born poor, its not your fault....But if you die poor, its your fault...."Bill Gates"