Mujeeb Ali Samo
Education is the mindful source that changes the status and brings desirable results in the future of the people. Surprisingly, our education system is haunted by poor mechanisms. The constitution of 1973 confers the fundamental right to every citizen. It also grant right to seek education as basic right. The provision is propounded in article 25 and and its relevant clauses 25 A of the 1973 constitution of Pakistan .Article 25 (A) explains as “Right to education. -The state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of five to sixteen years in such manner as may be determined by law”.Article 37(b) states as “remove illiteracy and provide free and compulsory secondary education within minimum possible period.”However, it is sad to say that Primary education is the right of every and higher education is a privilege. It is extremely shocking to know that 46 percent of the population makes the primary education system and only 4 percent makes the higher education. According to the united nations children’s fund (UNICEF) report, there are approximately 22.8 million out-of-school children in the country. Not surprisingly, this ratio is higher in rural areas than the urban areas. Education is the centerpiece of economic boost and progressive social infrastructure in the country the ideal life shall be possible when it touches the quality education and higher qualification. Unfortunately, our education policy is failing to impart useful knowledge. Primary education is the steeping stage of one’s life. Real education is higher education that is expensive and out of the reach of the people. It is the reason that why parents don’t allow their children to seek higher education. It is expensive and not in the right of one’s life. It is a privilege and that privilege is not in the approach of the poor people. The government has to take positive measures to enable higher education to make it easy for the indigent and hardworking people. Countries with durable policies for education always excel in every sphere of life. For instance, finland has a literacy rate of 99.2% with population of of 5. 53 million. China, our all weather friend, also stand exceptional in educating it’s people. The figure of literacy rate in China was said to be 79 percent in 1982 which has improved with right decision taken with tangible policies of the government. Presently china has literacy rate of 97 percent. It indicates that almost one million people per year had become literate over three decades. Germany and U.K has literacy rate of 99.0%. These countries do not only progress in economies but also in social and political well-being the people of their country. On the other side the lowest literacy rate counties in the world always stand at shadow of ignorance and backwardness. They not only suffer in economy but also in socio-political sector. There day-to-day affairs are haunted with innumerable problems. Pakistan literacy rate has reached to 59.13 percent with age of seven decades. Our neighbour country, India has 74.37 percent literacy rate. Bangladesh has 74.68 per cent literacy rate. Before the separation of east Pakistan now as Bangladesh during 1971, the literacy rate of Bangladesh according to the census, 21. 5% of the population aged 5 and above and the 16.7% of the population were literate. Such countries population live under extreme poverty. Corruption and weak socio-political infrastructure become the fate such countries. Quality life is at stake. Every day passed is hard and miserable. One always aspire for ideal life and that shall be possible with hundred percent education rate. The countries with best education policy always stand first line. They steer in the terms of education, economic competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life and human development. All these attributes are reflected to the countries who priorities the education as right not a privilege.
