President vows to ensure free education for all children
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared an education emergency across the country on Sunday — which is International Literacy Day — calling on the private sector and civil organisations to join hands with the government.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing the education agenda, striving for a more informed and sustainable nation,” the prime minister said in a message on the occasion of International Literacy Day.
International Literacy Day is observed on September 8 to remind policy-makers, practitioners, and the public of the critical importance of literacy for creating a more literate, just, peaceful, and sustainable society.
Unesco has highlighted that the lack of access to education remains a significant barrier, as three out of four children in developing countries cannot read or comprehend a basic text by the age of 10, and there are still 754 million illiterate adults globally, two-thirds of whom are women.
Meanwhile, in his message on world literacy day, President Asif Ali Zardari reiterated his pledge to make education accessible to all, regardless of circumstances, in line with Article 25A of the Constitution, which mandates free and compulsory education for children aged five to sixteen. The president stated, “The State is constitutionally obligated to provide free and compulsory education to all children aged five to sixteen years.”
On International Literacy Day, President Asif Ali Zardari emphasised the
transformative impact of education and literacy as crucial to the nation’s future. This year’s theme, “Promoting Multilingual Education:
Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace,” was highlighted by the president to underscore the vital role of literacy in fostering unity, cultural appreciation, and peaceful coexistence.
In his message, President Asif Ali Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s declaration of a National Educational Emergency in response to the urgent challenge of illiteracy.
This initiative aims to enroll out-of-school children and educate 70 million adults.
