KARACHI, March 9: Sharing their experiences, the children attending a workshop stressed that education was every child’s the fundamental right, but the government had failed to provide quality education to every kid in the country.

They said that children did not have the right to vote to elect candidates who could raise their voice in the assemblies. “Keeping in view the absence of children’s representation in decision-making institutions, we are going to promote self-advocacy by establishing Children’s Parliament in the country,” the students of various schools at the conclusion of the workshop observed.

In a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the workshop, organised by Society for the Protection of the Rights of Child, they criticised the dual role of public and private schools.

Students were of the opinion that majority of children in public schools had old syllabus with teachers not equipped with modern knowledge and up-to-date information. Consequently, education was being rapidly privatised, they said.

Discussing various problems, the young participants said that due to lack of facilities such as sports grounds, parks and recreational places their health and mental grooming suffered. The government and society had not recognised their fundamental rights, thus increasing trend of abuse of child rights had created insecure environment, they added. They urged civil society organisations and media to help in providing security and safe environment by exerting pressure on political parties for children-friendly legislations.

Briefing children about responsibilities of parliament, former federal minister Javed Jabbar said the country could not progress without laws and their proper implementation. It seemed good idea that children through an alternative forum like children parliament could articulate their issues and better lobby for the fulfilment of their rights, he added.

Justice Zafar Ahmed Shervani of Sindh High Court, who was the chief guest, said that there were countries which had children’s parliament but it was being introduced in Pakistan for the first time. Every child could only be blessed with inherent rights when vigorous demand was made, he said, adding that children could better utilise the forum for the promotion and protection of their rights.

Sabihuddin Ghousi, a senior journalist, spoke on the fundamental right of every student to learn about truth. He regretted that young generation in this society was unaware about their history because our curriculum comprised of distortions.

Abdul Maruf, Sindh deputy district attorney, also spoke on the occasion.—APP