Education Minister, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, alongside Minister for Prisons, Ali Hassan Zardari, the provincial government has decided to provide crucial educational support to the children of incarcerated individuals. The meeting included key figures such as Zahid Ali Abbasi, Secretary of School Education, Abbas Baloch, Secretary of Universities and Boards, and various representatives from the non-formal education sector and social organization, Pegham Pakistan, including Professor Miraj Siddiqui.
The assembly centered on strategies to facilitate educational opportunities for these vulnerable children. Representatives from Pegham Pakistan presented valuable insights aimed at enhancing accessibility to education for the offspring of convicted individuals. Sardar Ali Shah emphasized an essential principle: “No family, especially the children, should bear the brunt of a single person’s mistake.”
He articulated that the state not only has a duty to enforce the law but also to ensure educational access for these children. This pioneering model will offer a comprehensive education pathway from school to university, as well as non-formal and technical education. Shah noted, “This will be the world’s first model of its kind,” and added that it would set a precedent for prisons in other provinces of Pakistan. “Our goal is to sculpt these children into educated, patriotic Pakistanis,” the Education Minister affirmed. He highlighted the imperative of transforming the narrative surrounding prisoner’s children, stating,
“We do not want the child of a convict to become a future convict, but instead a responsible citizen.” Ali Hassan Zardari, the Minister for Prisons, reiterated the commitment: “Every possible support will be provided to ensure the completion of education for these children.” He acknowledged the need to reach out to those children who were unable to finish their education due to familial troubles. To further this initiative, a committee has been established to gather information on children currently studying in prisons. This committee will work closely with parents to collect pertinent educational details concerning their children.
