ISLAMABAD, March 5: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday promulgated an ordinance, making primary education compulsory in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

The Islamabad Capital Territory Compulsory Primary Education Ordinance, 2002, has come into force at once.

Except for a reasonable excuse, the ordinance binds the parents to sent their children to school till the completion of their primary education course.

In case of non-attendance, a union committee on education, that is to be constituted later through a notification, will consider whether the child is incapable of attending the school due to sickness or infirmity. It will also consider if the child is receiving tutoring outside the school, which, in its opinion, is sufficient, or if there is no school or literacy centre within a distance of 1.5 kilometres from the residence of the child.

In order to ensure that every child attends the school, the committee has also been empowered to take necessary steps. If the children are not being sent to the schools, it can force the parents to do so, after listening to their excuses.

Any parent who fails to comply with the ordinance can be convicted by a magistrate with a fine of Rs500, that can be increased to Rs20 per day after the conviction, until the children are sent to school.

Similarly, in case of working children, the employer, who, despite receiving due warning from the committee, continues to employ a child, whether on remuneration or otherwise, can also be convicted by a magistrate and face a Rs1,000 fine. The amount will be increased to Rs50 per day after the conviction, till the person concerned complies with the ordinance.

However, the ordinance bars the court from taking any cognizance, unless the committee or its member files a complaint.