Peshawar: Govt urged to establish writ, rebuild schools

Participants of a dialogue on ‘Female Education and Government’s Responsibilities’ on Thursday urged the government to establish its writ in the province, rebuild the schools blown up by militants, stop interference in transfer and posting of teachers and take tangible steps for higher literacy rate. The event was organised by the provincial Information Department at Peshawar Press Club in collaboration with Khyber Union of Journalists. Provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the government was committed to promoting education, especially female education, in the province but necessary changes in syllabus was a must for it.“We tried to replace the old syllabus but some people raised a hue and cry over it and as a result, we couldn’t do it,” he said. The minister, however, said steps were being taken to improve literacy rate in the province. Women rights activist Rakhshanda Naz called for pro-female education policies in the province and said primary education should be assigned to female teachers, who could manage it in a befitting manner. She said women should be given due share in all sectors for national progress. Ms Naz also demanded that the government address the mobility issue affecting female teachers. Religious scholar Maulana Ihsanullah explained the significance of female education in Islam. He said education was compulsory for both men and women and that there was no restriction in Islam on female education. Mr Ihsanullah said the perception that ulema were opposed to female education was false and misleading. Arshad Haroon of SPO demanded introduction of uniform education system in the country. He regretted that the education situation was dismal in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sadia Marwat of Aurat Foundation said Pakistan was unlikely to fulfill international obligations on education under Millennium Development Goals. She said the government’s performance on education was a big letdown. Religious scholar Rohullah Madni called for better allocation of funds for seminaries in the budget and said the government should promote both modern and religious education in the province.