ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: Politicians, educationists and human rights activists stressed the need for engagement of civil society organisations and public offices to improve the standard of education in the country.

They were speaking at the concluding session of a two-day “Third national education convention” organised by Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar said education had become a commercial entity making it impossible for the common people to send their children to schools and colleges.

“During Musharraf’s regime, it was decided that only educated people would be allowed to become members of assemblies but fake degree holders reached parliament.”

He added that during a visit to the Indian province of Behar, he had come to know that the provincial government had established schools at a distance of every four kilometers.

“Two million uniforms and 70,000 bicycles were distributed free of cost among the students there. We have to follow them because good things can be learned from anyone,” he said.

Secretary education KP Humayun Khan admitted that monitoring and evaluation of schools had been ignored in his province.

During the first session, Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan I. A. Rehman, Mazhar Arif from Society for Alternate Media and Research, Shamin Anjum from Radio Pakistan and others discussed media as an agent of change.

Mr Rahman highlighted the fact that reporting and current coverage by the media did not delve deep enough into education and other social issues.

The role it can play is immense but for that civil society should cooperate with the media to voice the aspirations of children and parents alike and create a just and transparent society, he added.