Education manifesto

This refers to the news report, ‘Investment in education must for a better future: COAS’ (December 29). The education sector is in a pathetic condition and the literacy rate has actually reduced in the last eight years in Sindh. The situation is not much different in the other parts of the country. Ghost schools, ghost teachers and ghost students are the outcome of the utter neglect of the provincial as well as the federal governments. Not only is the budget allocation paltry but 50 percent of the resources are pilfered. We are churning out illiterate and ignorant mass of people who are unfit for the 21st century. The issue calls for radical measures to catch up with the first world countries.

It has now taken the army chief to step in and highlight the importance of education and the need to make greater investments in human resources. A constitutional guarantee is required to ensure that every child has access to quality education. Will the apex court intervene and order that education is the fundamental right of every child and the government of the day is bound to honour this? Likewise, the Election Commission should direct that this obligation is enshrined in the manifestos of every political party.

Arif Majeed

Karachi