ISLAMABAD, April 24: Investing in education is vital for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and it is also imperative that all children get free education, especially those in the disaster-affected areas.

This was stated by country director Islamic Relief Pakistan Dr Fayaz Ahmad here on Tuesday.

He said under the rehabilitating infrastructure for supporting education programme, 15 of the worst flood-hit schools had been reconstructed in the district of Muzaffargarh.

He said it was estimated that around 20 million children in Pakistan are out of schools and the education system in the country is not very good.

The situation in the disaster-affected areas is even worse. “We need to ensure free and quality education for all children; especially the most vulnerable and disadvantaged need to be prioritised because the social and economic development of Pakistan depends on the success of its education,” Dr Ahmad added.

He said it was also necessary to check the dropout ratio in schools and in this regard parents and communities should be encouraged to ensure 100 per cent enrollment.—A Reporter