Media representatives assure to play active role for quality education for all.

JUNE 10,2012

Journalists of electronic and print media and civil society has agreed to play a vital role in highlighting the various issues which hinder to ensure access, quality and proper utilization of resources in Education system. Expressing their views, in a consultation workshop organized in Karachi by Pakistan Coalition for Education and initiative of Society for Access to Quality Education (SAQE) under the title “Role of media in Education for all”, representatives of electronic and print Media assured that they would play a role of bridge between civil society representatives, NGOs and educationists to ensure the free education for all.

National Coordinator of PCE Zehra Arshad welcomed the participants and highlighted the aims and objectives of the consultation workshop. She told that, workshop is aimed at creating a strong liaison between media and civil society to bridge the gaps for the progression and enactment of article 25-A after the 18th constitutional amendment.

Zubeda Mustafa, famous scholar and writer, highlighted various aspects which need to be taken under consideration to ensure Education for all. She shared that, there is a big issue of access to schools especially for girls, while different social and cultural taboos and worst law and order situation throughout the country are the main impediments.  The quality of Education is not satisfactory and utilization of resources is not meaningful, she added.

She said that, basic education should be in local language but there is no specific law and language policy regarding education in Pakistan. Through Public private Partnership, schools are being handed over to different private partners and, consequently, parents cannot afford heavy amount in name of fees. Therefore Government should focus on these issues, Zubeda Mustafa emphasized.

Renowned researcher Zaigham Khan delivered his presentation and briefed about education reporting, issue and Challenges. He stressed media to create demand for education and point out where governments need to be guided because media informs, educate and link people with people.

He said, Education is the only entity that informs us how to liberate our self and others.  He further said, there are certain rights which are guaranteed under the constitution of Pakistan and article 25-A is one of them. Media is facing various challenges such as power politics, crime, lack of recognition, pressure of authorities and commercial interests.

Participants, belonging to different newspapers, civil society, print and electronic media, agreed that they would publish education news on front page at least once in a week and news channels would telecast news in headlines and they would reserve time for education awareness programs. They assured that any news regarding ghost teachers, closure of schools, and embezzlements in school funds would be highlighted as crime.

Concluding the workshop National Coordinator PCE Zahra Arshad stressed, that rules and regulations should be arranged in light of Article 25-A, a detailed implementation Plan should be chalked out and monitored by Media and Civil Society. He suggested that vote casting should be linked with education efforts for politicians.