School enrolment

The government’s aim to achieve 100 percent primary school enrolment by 2018 seems too good to be true for the simple reason that all such plans in the past could not materialise either. A lot has been written on the subject by education experts. However, one important factor that perhaps was not commented upon is that the majority of parents from the poorer segments of our society are unable to send their children to nearby schools even for free education due to the non-availability of safe and reliable public transport or having no means to bear the cost of travel where such a facility is available.

It is therefore suggested that the government should arrange free, dedicated public transport to pick and drop small children from designated points in poor localities. I am sure this small service by all provincial governments would go a long way in promoting primary education in the country. We owe this to our next generation, particularly those small children who are unable to attend schools for no fault of theirs.

Basharat Malik

Lahore