Come to school and get candy!

*Federal authorities lure children to school with candies, abolition of fee; efforts underway to improve primary school enrolment from present 95pc

The abolishment of all types of payment in form of fee and other charges from classes 1 to 10 in all educational institutions in the federal capital has helped increase percentage of school-going children in Islamabad to 95 percent at primary level and efforts are being made to further increase the enrolment percentage.

The sources at Capital Administration and Development Division Monday while highlighting the initiatives with regard to increasing the percentage said that in pursuance of Article 25-A of Constitution and in terms of Section 3(2) of “Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2012” all types of payment in form of fee, charges, expenses from students of classes 1 to 10 in all educational institutions have been abolished.

They said special campaigns are launched to admit out-of-school children and in this regard School Management Committees (SMCs) are playing vital role for community mobilisation.

The sources added that a formal admission campaign was launched through Area Education Officers and head of institutions; banners were displayed at school gates and prominent places and teachers conducted a field survey to identify and motivate the parents of out-of-school children to get their wards enrolled in schools.

Official sources said an incentive in the form of a gift pack comprising candies and other items was also given to newly enrolled children.

They said that yet another initiative was that on the occasion of World Literacy Day 2013, a special campaign was launched to bring out-of-school children to schools and increase enrolment in schools.

The campaign was a success, they reportedly said, adding that 15,860 children were admitted in three days in government schools located in the urban sector and four rural sectors of Islamabad.