Moalims

KARACHI: Children of politicians and bureaucrats do not study at public schools because of the low quality of education and the poor infrastructure at these schools.

Educationists, political leaders, teachers and lawmakers said that if the government intends to raise the education standard at the public schools and promote education in general there is a need of a new law that bounds politicians and bureaucrats to send their children at these schools.

The PPP lead government has no plan to end feudalism and promote education in the province which is not only contradicts the PPP's basic ideology but is also against the Zufikar Ali Bhutto's education nationalization policy, Khurrum Sher Zaman, PTI provincial leader and member of Sindh Assembly told Daily Times.

"I will never enroll my children in public schools until the government ensures quality of education at these schools. And it's not rocket science, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has evolved the state-run schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa .The Sindh government can similarly adopt the policy of KPK's government also", he suggested.

Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, a Jamaat e Islami (JI) leader told that bureaucrats, politicians and the establishment all together have put down the education system to enhance educational expenses, depriving poor of their basic rights of access to education. He said that the politicians do not send their children to the public schools mostly.

Private education system is now only affordable for the elite class only. The JI has always taken the stance in the Senate and parliament that education should not be a provincial subject because every province has a different curriculum, which is not suitable for the unity of a nation, he further explained.

Hamid Karim, the additional director schools said that if the government ensures a new legislation for bounding all the government employees, officers and legislators to enroll their children with public schools it will be more beneficial for public education system. In this way, every government official will understand the problems being faced by the students of lower-middle class at these schools. He will definetly try to solve the problem with the education system.

Parents select a school for their kids. If government makes a law it will be not contradicting to the right of individual freedom in any case.

Unfortunately, none of government run schools has bagged a top position in metric and intermediate boards for last several years.

The government fills only vacant posts in the education department, and majority of the teachers do not fulfill requirements. If relevant documents are verified, it is expected that 35 percent of the teachers will lose their jobs", Zakia Anis, secretary general of Pakistan Educational Forum told.

"The people in power make laws to control the poor. So it is impossible that a lawmaker makes any legislation that hurts his interests," she concluded.

The children of chief minister, education minister, secretary education and the rest of bureaucrats are studying aboard or are enrolled at the private schools and colleges. But they are trying to improve our education, which is a clumsy joke, Dr Tausif Ahmed Khan, an emeritus professor at the Karachi University told.

"The Constitution of Pakistan (CP) explains in its Article 25 that state will provide costless and mandatory education to all children aged between 5 and 16 years in such a manner as may be determined by law. While it has also mentioned in the Article 37 that state will elevate the educational and economic interests of backward classes and areas with special care", Qadir Khan Mandokhai, a senior advocate said.

However, higher education will be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit but removing illiteracy and providing free and basic education within minimum period of time has also been defined in Constitution, he corrected.

In this connection, there is no law which bounds the bureaucrats, politicians and government employees that they should send their children at public schools, he said.

Arshad Yousafzai