KARACHI:
Experts at a seminar organised by the National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) discussed the challenges faced by the children of the impoverished Tharparkr district of Sindh.
Pirbhu Satyani, the NCRC representative for Sindh and Minorities of Pakistan, was the main speaker at the seminar held at the Thar Education Alliance office hall in Mithi which saw participation from representatives of civil society and educators.
Speaking at the seminar, Satyani highlighted that the NCRC is hosting conferences and seminars across major cities in the nation to address children’s problems.
Satyani acknowledged Tharparkar as a home to several minority communities and assured that the problems faced by their children would be duly reported to the NCRC. Moreover, he mentioned engaging with judges of the Education Department in Sindh to address education-related issues. Recommendations from civil society would be forwarded to the federal government for improving the educational landscape in Thar.
Pratab Shivani, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the said that despite having 90% primary schools, there is a shortage of high schools and colleges.
Shivani pointed out that over 0.3 million children in Thar are currently not attending school, emphasising the need to provide them with educational opportunities.
Read: Out of school children need urgent attention
Shivani also suggested granting teachers in Tharparkar a hardship allowance similar to doctors, enabling them to teach in remote areas.
Other speakers at the seminar included Jitesh Rathi, District General Secretary of GSTA Tharparkar, Raja Sharma, Bharat Kumar, Mahansingh Bheel, Hemant Kumar, and others, who highlighted key issues.
These issues ranged from simplifying the process of obtaining birth certificates for children to offering scholarships based on merit for minority affairs. Other concerns included the provision of necessary facilities, such as furniture in schools, establishing hostels for schools and colleges, and making special arrangements for educating displaced children.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2024.
Source link: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2458302/speakers-discuss-challenges-faced-by-thar-children