ISLAMABAD: Signing of Joint Declaration on Education by the political leadership of the Federating Units and AJK including the national leadership demonstrates democratic government’s re-affirmation to Education For All which has been enshrined in the Constitution as an enforceable right.
In his concluding remarks at the National Education Conference here on Friday, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said that the Joint Declaration demonstrates the commitment of the provinces and areas to develop Action-Plans for implementation of the policy.He said the declaration also reiterates the commitment of the Federation to meet international commitments including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The Prime Minister also said that a conference representing all the Federating Units will be held every year to review the progress and implementation of the policy.The joint declaration was signed by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Governor Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Barrister Syed Masood Kausar as representative of FATA, Chief Minister Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab M. Aslam Khan Raisani, Minister for Education Punjab Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Prime Minister of AJK Ch. Abdul Majid and Minister for Education Gilgit Baltistan Dr. Ali Madad Sher.Minister for Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Sheikh while addressing the conference said, “which of the countries are developed and which of the countries are not developed. They are not developed due to the pall of illiteracy.”
He said those who invest in people are developed countries. He appreciated the initiative to promote education in the country on priority basis.Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Nadeemul Haq said signing of the Declaration demonstrates the democratic leadership’s commitment to education.He said without education economic growth, strengthening of democracy and even humanity are pipe-dreams.
He assured that Planning Division and Ministry of Finance will not lag behind in fulfilling their constitutional obligations on education.
Following is the text of Joint Declaration on Education:“We, the elected leaders of the Government of Pakistan and the Governments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Azad Jammu Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan, hereby declare that:The Federal and Provincial Governments reaffirm their commitment to Education as a priority.National Education Policy 2009, subject to such adaptations as were necessitated in view of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, shall continue to be jointly owned national document.
Education is a fundamental right of all Children aged 5-16, guaranteed through Article 25A of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, following the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which received assent on April 19, 2010; Provincial governments shall enact legislation for the implementation of article 25A.Each province/area shall develop an Action Plan which shall commit to appropriately raise allocations for education, set priorities according to provincial needs of access and quality of education and provide implementation strategies/processes with time-frame and key indicators; ensure fulfillment of constitutional needs with respect to education and meet the international commitments including targets of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA).
The Planning system (the Planning Commission, Provincial Planning Departments, and Education Departments) shall be jointly the Secretariat for the Education Ministers’ Conference.Each year a high level National Summit on Education shall be convened to review progress during the year and take decisions to further improve the situation to achieve national and international commitments. – APP
