ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: The Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has decided to admit 25,000 students in 423 educational institutions of the capital during a literacy campaign between September 9 and 11.

A circular received in educational institutions from the FDE in this regard stated that according to Article 25-A of the constitution, it is mandatory for every child between 5 and 16 years of age to receive education. Therefore, heads of educational institutions have been instructed to take steps to admit children in their schools.

Since 2002, the federal and provincial departments, in cooperation with the civil society and non government organisations (NGOs), have been participating in the global “Education for All” campaign, the circular said. The campaign aimed at creating public awareness about the fundamental rights of every child to receive education.

FDE has also instructed principals to address students during assemblies to create awareness about education. In addition, they have been instructed to hold speeches, quiz competitions, poster competitions and literacy walks in this regard so that students and parents were informed of the importance of education.

Furthermore, heads of schools have been instructed to send teachers to various houses and slum areas to create awareness among residents of the federal capital.

The principal of a model school, requesting not to be identified, said the FDE had decided to send teachers to various houses to see whether residents had employed teenagers and to ensure that children of labourers were going to school.

“Teachers will convince them (labourers) to send their children to schools, and no fee will be charged from students in this regard,” he said.

The president of the Federal Government College Teachers Association (FGCTA), Prof Tahir Mahmood, said in the H-8 College, students were involved in the literacy campaign. “They will visit the slums and katchi abadi to motivate parents,” he added.

“The contents of the circular issued by the FDE were decided in a meeting held at H-8 College on Saturday which was attended by all principals. Earlier, a meeting in this regard was held at CADD on September 5, and was attended by the directors and area education officers,” he said.

“Director Colleges Mahmood Akhter Malik also suggested that in every college, the number of admission seats for each group (pre-medical, pre-engineering, humanities) should be increased by 25. This proposal was approved. The FGCTA also request the teaching community to actively participate in the education campaign,” he said.

Director General FDE Dr Shahnaz A Riaz, while talking to Dawn, said it had been decided to admit 25,000 students in educational institutions of the federal capital. Students would be admitted in the evening shifts and separate classes would be started to ensure they received appropriate attention.