Lahore: Over 0.5 million children without education in city

[Naveed Yaseen]

* 4.5 million drop out of school by the time they reach third grade
* EDO says children not enrolled are gypsies and always on the move



Aaj Kal Report

LAHORE: There are over 0.5 million children in the provincial metropolis who do not have access to education and are forced to sell balloons and toys on the streets besides working in hotels and shops.

The Punjab government had announced an ‘educational emergency’ in the province after coming into office. The government had assigned the Education Department the task to enrol 1.7 million children in schools, but the target has not been met. A few months ago, the government directed the Education Department to direct the executive district officer of each district to enrol all the children who are not in school. The government had also announced a fine of Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 for parents not sending their children to school. A letter directing this was sent to all district education officers.

However, despite the orders of the government, the deputy district education officers and the assistant education officers failed to enrol children in schools in their respective districts.

According to an Aaj Kal Report, there are over 0.5 million children living in Ravi Town, Nishtar Town, Wagha Town, Shalimar Town and Allama Iqbal Town, who are of a school-going age but have been deprived of this right.

Drop out: According to the report, 4.5 million children drop out of school by the time they reach class three.

Joint Action Committee of Punjab Teachers told Aaj Kal that the government does not improve the financial status of the parents, but forces them to send their children to school.

Gypsies: Lahore Executive District Officer (EDO) (Education) Dr Arshad said the problem of enrolment was not intense in Lahore. He said the children not going to school were gypsies, and were always on the move.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...09_pg13_10