ISLAMABAD: In commemoration of International Literacy Day, the SOS Foundation organized an enlightening awareness walk in Islamabad. The event drew a diverse assembly of participants, including children from various schools, educators, social workers, and individuals from all walks of life, united in the shared goal of promoting literacy and education.
Addressing the gathering, the Director of Programs for SOS Foundation, Abdus Salam, expressed deep concern over the staggering statistics of more than 2.8 million children and youth in Pakistan currently deprived of basic education. This figure, he emphasized, exceeds the total population of many countries worldwide.
Contributions of SOS Foundation
Salam acknowledged the invaluable contributions of numerous private organizations, including the SOS Foundation, in efforts to provide education to out-of-school children. However, he underscored the indispensable role of the government in making education a top priority, urging the declaration of an educational emergency to combat illiteracy on an urgent and extensive scale.
Director of the National University for Security Sciences, Dr. Khalid Azim, echoed the sentiment that education is an intrinsic right of every child. Dr. Azim emphasized that it is the government’s solemn responsibility to facilitate enhanced educational and training opportunities for the nation’s children. He noted the stark contrast between children in developed countries who engage in cutting-edge fields like artificial intelligence and robotics, while a significant portion of Pakistan’s youth remains bereft of even the most fundamental education.
Educationist Aneela Junaid drew attention to Article 25-A of the Constitution, which enshrines the right of every child to free basic education. She lamented the current allocation of resources, asserting that education does not get its deserved priority within government initiatives. She advocated for a substantial increase in the education budget, suggesting that it should be raised to at least 5 percent of the GDP. This, she contended, would pave the way for achieving 100 percent literacy in Pakistan by the year 2030.
The walk concluded with a solemn pledge from the participants to unite their efforts in eradicating illiteracy from Pakistan.
Among the other notable speakers were social worker Nauman Shakir, Professor Ali Khan, and educationists Ahsan Hamid, Sadia Aamir, and Gul Fatima. The collective message was clear: education is a fundamental right, and it is the shared responsibility of society and government alike to ensure that every child in Pakistan has access to quality education.
