A project has been evolved to enrol street children in schools from the new academic year, commencing from April 1, in district Rawalpindi under the directives of Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Shehbaz Sharif.
All the street children involved in rag picking, begging, factory work, workshops, hotels and homes, within the 5-10 year age bracket will be enrolled.
All the headmasters of high schools, senior teachers, members of assemblies and newly elected chairmen and vice chairmen of district Rawalpindi have been directed to ensure 100 per cent enrolment of street children in the schools. The Literacy Department has been issued directives for opening special centres in this respect.
Literacy Department Senior Officer Syed Ejaz Hussain Shah, said that the admission of all the street children in schools and literacy centres will be ensured from the new academic year and education, books, copies, bags and uniforms will be provided to them free of cost.
He stated that most literacy centres are being set up near bricks kilns and kiosks. Literacy centres will be set up in Adiala jail too, he added. An admission campaign for the children will be launched from February, which will be inaugurated by CM Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif.