Date of first review: 8 May 2008
Date of 2nd review 30 October 2012
Date of first review: 8 May 2008
The troika consisted of Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Azerbaijan.
The summary of stakeholders' contributions deals with the right to educationat its point 32.
32. According to JS1, nearly one third of the population is illiterate, noting that 2.42 per cent of the budget was allocated in 2007-08 on public education. JS1 noted that a huge disparity exists in the literacy ratio between men and women due to unequal access to education for girls and gender biases in education materials.
JS1 Joint submission (1) of National Commission for Justice and Peace, Democratic Commission for Human Development, Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan, Aurat Foundation, Pakistan Federal Union Of Journalists, Lok Sangat, Pakistan Forum for Social Democracy, Strengthening Participatory Organization, Lahore, Pakistan
Download the summary: http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/A_HRC_WG6_2_PAK_3_E.pdf
Civil society organizations which have submitted a report
. Amnesty International
. Anti Slavery International
. Asian Center for Human Rights
. Asian Legal Resource Centre
. Becket Fund for Religious Liberty
. Christian Solidarity Worldwide
. Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
. Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children
. Human Rights First
. Human Rights Watch
. Interfaith International
. International Commission of Jurists
. International Displacement Monitoring Centre
. International Federation for Human Rights
. International Gay and Lesbian Association
. International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
. Institute on Religion and Public Policy
. Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human Rights
. National Commission for Justice and Peace
. Thardeep Rural Development Programme
. Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Four out of the 51 recommendations received by Pakistan deal with education.
3 To continue to spearhead progress toward gender equality and development for women in areas of education and employment (Algeria);
34 To take effective measures to allow women, particularly in rural areas, to have access to health services, education, clean water and sanitation (Luxembourg);
36 To take urgent measures to ensure that adequate resources are allocated for education (Finland);
43 That achievements in reducing poverty and illiteracy be emulated by other countries (United Arab Emirates).
Download Recommendations : http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/Recommendations_Pakistan_2008.pdf
Human Rights Education is dealt with at one specific point in the national report I, 74.
Besides the chapter on education (points 62 to 72), several other points deal with the subject, namely in the chapters on children (46) and on people with disabilities (52).
I. Human rights education
74. Human Rights Education Curricula has been developed through consultative processes at the Curriculum Wing of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights 2001 with the support of the Norwegian and Canadian governments. This Ministry in cooperation with Norway (NORAD) and Government of Switzerland worked jointly with the Ministry of Education on a project "Human Rights Mass Awareness for Education". The most important step taken in this direction is the incorporation of the main concepts related to child rights into curriculum and teachers training materials. The materials produced have been incorporated in the relevant subjects taught at school levels. Textbooks contain messages of human rights together with articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In Sindh textbooks on human rights education, citizenship and conflict resolution education have been integrated in the government prescribed social studies textbooks of primary and elementary levels. The new National Curriculum has made efforts to include principles of human rights, upholding diversity and difference along with universal rights.
46. Pakistan has made progress towards achieving MDGs- Gross Enrolment Rate (GER) has increased from 72 per cent in the year 2000-01 to 87 per cent in the year 2005-06. Net Enrolment Rate (NER) has also shown an upward trend. Pakistan has made progress in NER at primary school level. Infant mortality rate at 70 and under five mortality rate at 100 are showing exponential decline. The Ministry of Education launched the National Plan of Action for Education for All in April 2003, for achieving universal primary education by 2015. Gender disparities are being narrowed through mixed primary schools, compensatory programs, focusing on missing facilities in girls' schools and appointment of female teachers. According to EFA goals and targets, by 2015, all children, with special emphasis on girls and children in difficult circumstances, should have access to completely free education. It also aims at eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education and achieving gender equality in education by 2015.
52. The Directorate General of Special Education in collaboration with Ministry of Education and provincial departments of education is working on a Pilot Project for Integrated Education of Children with Disabilities. To attain the goal of mainstreaming, 14 regular schools of the federal/provincial Governments have been selected for inclusive education with targets of 25-50 students each year in each school. The equipment provided to 14 selected primary schools each for boys and girls includes Braille Machines, Audiovisual, hearing aids, wheel, chairs, crutches, other education equipment and furniture items. Similar programs are initiated with the technical and financial assistance of Sight Saver UK, World Bank and Braillow Norway. The main purpose of this program is to shift from a focus on disability to seeing inclusive education as fundamental right of every child and a means of meeting the Millennium Development Goals
2. Education
62. The Government's Education Policy (1998-2010) and the Education Sector Reforms (ESR) Action Plan 2002-2006 recognizes the fact that quality of education is an important factor in national development. The monitoring of learning achievements of students is, therefore, one of the key components to assess and to improve the quality of education. National Education Assessment System (NEAS) is one of the key programs under the Education Policy to improve the quality of education at elementary level. The program aims to develop national capacity for monitoring the learning achievements of elementary level students in order to improve the quality of services (curriculum, textual material, teachers' delivery, policy formulation, etc) in the education sector.
63. Education in general and primary education in particular is on the concurrent list of the Constitution. After nationwide devolution in 2001 education up to grade 12 is a district subject. All implementation lies at district and provincial level. However; three of the four provinces, Federally Administered Areas and the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) have compulsory primary education laws. Primary education was made compulsory in the provinces.
64. The lack of physical infrastructure is becoming one of the major causes for low enrolment and high drop out rates in the country. Rs. 1.05 billion has been earmarked for 2006-07 for the provision of missing facilities to the government schools under the Education Sector Reforms. This would be spent on provision of water, toilets, science and computer labs and other facilities. The program would continue until infrastructure and facilities in all schools are upgraded.
65. An Education for All (EFA) National Plan of Action (NPA) has been developed through broad-based consultations with principal actors of EFA and other stakeholders. The Ten Year Perspective Development Plan 2001-2011 links education with other social sectors and views EFA as the centerpiece of human capital formation. Emphasis is placed on three priority areas, with targets to be reached by 2015, namely: - Universal primary education and quality EFA. - Raising the net participation rate of early childhood education to 50 per cent. - Adult literacy rate rose to 86 per cent.
66. The Ministry of Education launched the National Plan of Action for Education for All on 3rd April 2003, for achieving universal primary education by 2015. Gender disparities are being narrowed through mixed primary schools, compensatory programs (nutrition, stipends) targeted towards girls at the primary, middle and matric levels, and appointment of female teachers.
67. In Pakistan, education is provided by public and private sector at 65:35 per cent ratios. Most non-state providers or private sector charge fees. However, some philanthropic providers provide free or virtually free of cost education such as the Citizen's Foundation, as well as the Provincial Education Foundations through its Financially Assisted Schools (FAS) program is ensuring that education is provided free of cost at Rs.300 per child in non-elite private schools. Education Foundations being quasi government institutions are acting on behalf of the government to buy places for children in the private sector up to secondary level to provide choice and quality. The National Education Foundation and the Sindh Education Foundation also subscribe to highly subsidized community based schools for the disadvantaged The overall reach of these programs is about .5 million children.
68. Overall gender gap in the GER has been considerably reduced. This can be attributed to increase in female enrolment rate during the same period. There are areas in which significant progress has been made and indicators point to a steady though slow improvement in the ratio of girls to boys at all levels of education, the ratio of literate females to males, share of women in urban employment (as proxy indicator for share of women in wage employment in non-agricultural sector) has improved marginally and improvement in participation of women in national decision making process.
69. There are several explanations for this persistent gap in literacy. A recent World Bank Country Gender Assessment Report 2005 highlights the two most important constraining factors that impede female access to education. Distance from school and physical costs of attending schools for girls affect their enrollment. The latest PRHS-2 2004-05 also indicate lack of access of girls.
70. To encourage regular attendance at schools and to reduce drop out rates many positive measures have been taken. Extensive compensatory support programs are in place to offset costs of education and reduce household burden. In the far flung areas of Pakistan there are large initiatives of World Food Program and Tawana or School Nutrition Program to support students and their families. The latter program in progress across 25 poorest districts in the country was reviewed and revamped from providing hot cooked meals on the premises to high nutrition milk and biscuits and scaled up to 55 districts. However, this is restricted to government schools targeting girls and mixed schools. Provincial Governments have waived user charges and are providing free books up to matric level, to attract students who cannot continue their studies due to poverty. Scholarships are being provided, particularly to female students to increase enrolment.
71. The reforms program for Madrassahs (seminaries) has been termed "mainstreaming of Madrassahs", providing insertion of additional subjects offered in regular schools, teachers support, training and maximum perks to teachers and improving the quality of education. More than 95 per cent of the country's estimated 13,000 Madrassahs had been registered. Madrassahs students constituted 4.5 per cent of the enrolled students in the country. Pakistan Studies, English, Mathematics and computer science has been incorporated in the curricula of Madrassahs.
72. A project titled "Madrassahs Reforms" was launched in 2002-03 with the directive of the President for a period of 5 years at a capital cost of Rs. 5759.4 million. The main objective of this program is to provide financial assistance to 8000 Deeni Madaris (religious seminaries) to introduce formal subjects in their curricula. The progress made toward the goals of this reform program include, simplification of the process of registration of Madaris, the standard procedure prescribed by the Ministry of Interior to control funds has produced positive results, a large number of Madaris have applied to provincial/area governments for financial assistance under the project, Most of Madaris in AJ&K have been cleared for financial assistance and a great breakthrough by the FATA administration have been made by distributing checks among registered Deeni Madaris.
Read the report (in english) http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/A_HRC_WG6_2_PAK_1_E.pdf
Pakistan was reviewed on 8 May 2008. The troika consisted of Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Azerbaijan.
Education is dealt with in several points of the summary by the High Commissionner for Human Rights.
67. La HRCP (1) 67. HRCP and JS7 (2) noted the Government did not make the required financial commitment to realise this right and was unlikely to meet the MDG on universal primary education by 2015. JS6 (3), JS11 (4), JS14 (5), noted that although the Constitution provides free and compulsory education to all children aged 5-16, low investment has resulted in poor education and low literacy (just over 50%).
68. JS6 (6) stated that schools are in poor condition and poorly equipped and noted that whilst the tuition fees in government schools may be low, the monetary cost of purchasing books and school uniforms prevent access to education among the poorer families.
69. JS14 (7) noted the curricula for schools and colleges are loaded with so-called religious material laden with biases and recommended removing material instigating discrimination and hatred towards religious minorities.
70. JS9 (8) recommended the Government take serious measures to ensure equal access to education, including for children from the Scheduled Caste community.
76. CSW (9) CSW recommended Pakistan accelerate and prioritise the reform of the national school curriculum to eliminate discriminatory teaching materials and practice. 149
80. JS14 (10) recommended incorporating human rights education in the curriculum of educational institutions, and that the security of women and children living in IDP camps be ensured.
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(1) HRCP Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan
(2) JS7 Joint submission (5) of Justitia et Pax and 10 Pakistani CSOs;
(3) JS6 Joint submission (JS6) of Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI), Franciscans International (FI), Dominicans for Justice and Peace: Order of Preachers, VIVAT International;
(4) JS11 Joint submission (JS11) of the Child Rights Movement (CRM);
(5) JS14 Joint Submission (JS14) of South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, National Commission for Justice and Peace, Aurat Foundation -War against Rape - SUNGI, Muthida Labor Federation, Centre for Human Rights Education, WISE (Women in Struggle for Empowerment), PODA-Pakistan;
(6) JS6 Joint submission
(7) JS14 Joint Submission
(8) JS9 Joint submission (JS9) of the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and the Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN);
(9) CSW Christian Solidarity Worldwide, New Malden, United Kingdom;
(10) JS14 Joint Submission
Thirty eight communications have been submitted by the following NGOs for Pakistan's second UPR.
AMC Ahmadiyya Muslim Lawyers Association, USA;
AI Amnesty International*, London, United Kingdom;
ADF Alliance Defense Fund, Pakistan;
BPCA British Pakistani Christian Association, United Kingdom;
BWA Baptist World Alliance, USA;
CHRI Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative*, New Delhi, India;
CRIN Child Rights International Network, London, United Kingdom;
CSW Christian Solidarity Worldwide, New Malden, United Kingdom;
EN Equality Now, USA;
ECLJ European Centre for Law and Justice , France;
GIECP Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children, London, United Kingdom;
HRI Harm Reduction International;
HRF Human Rights First*, New York, NY, USA;
HRW Human Rights Watch*, New York, NY, USA;
HRCP Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan;
ICJ International Commission of Jurists*, Geneva, Switzerland;
IDMC International Displacement Monitoring Centre of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Geneva, Switzerland;
IHRC Islamic Human Rights Commission, London, United Kingdom;
JS1 Joint submission (1) of Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA), ECPAT international and Acting for Life, Lahore, Pakistan;
JS2 Joint submission (2) of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Pakistan NGOs Forum (PNF), Mithi, Pakistan;
JS3 Joint submission (3) of International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) and South Asia Centre for Peace (SACP);
JS4 Joint submission (4) of ARTICLE 19 and BoloBhi’s;
JS5 Joint submission (5) of Bytes for All (B4A), Pakistan, Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Freedom House (FH);
JS6 Joint submission (JS6) of Marist International Solidarity Foundation (FMSI), Franciscans International (FI), Dominicans for Justice and Peace: Order of Preachers, VIVAT International;
JS7 Joint submission (5) of Justitia et Pax and 10 Pakistani CSOs; JS8 Joint submission (JS8) of Global Human Rights Defence, (GHRD) and Human Rights Focus Pakistan, Faisalabad (HRFP);
JS9 Joint submission (JS9) of the International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) and the Pakistan Dalit Solidarity Network (PDSN);
JS10 Joint submission (JS10) of the Asian Legal Resource Centre (ALRC) and Action by Christians Against Torture France (ACAT-France);
JS11 Joint submission (JS11) of the Child Rights Movement (CRM);
JS12 Joint submission (JS12) of Rahnuma Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP), the MDG5b Alliance and the Sexual Rights Initiative (SRI);
JS13 Joint Submission (JS13) of Shirkat Gah on behalf of Aurat Foundation, Home Net Pakistan, Bedari, Church of Pakistan-Lahore Diocese, Simorgh, Sudhar Development Organization, Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE), Ittehad Foundation and Women’s Organization for Rights and Development (WORD);
JS14 Joint Submission (JS14) of South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, National Commission for Justice and Peace, Aurat Foundation -War against Rape - SUNGI, Muthida Labor Federation, Centre for Human Rights Education, WISE (Women in Struggle for Empowerment), PODA-Pakistan;
Liberation Liberation, United Kingdom;
PFP Peace Foundation Pakistan;
RWB Reporters Without Borders, Geneva, Switzerland;
STP Society for Threatened Peoples;
UNPO Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, The Hague, Netherlands.
The report submitted by Pakistan deals with the follow-up to the education-related recommendations (recommendations 3, 34 and 36)
B. Education (Recommendations 3, 34 and 36)
91. The literacy rate in Pakistan is 58 percent. 34 It is higher in urban areas than in rural areas. There is also a disparity between men and women and between the provinces. Efforts are being made to remove this disparity and to increase emphasis on education. With the passage of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, right to free and compulsory education is now recognized as a fundamental right.
92. In July 2012, the Parliament passed a bill to provide free and compulsory education to all children, aged between five and 16 years, in Islamabad. The aim of this is to start a national tradition for providing free education to all children. “Every child regardless of sex, nationality or race shall have the fundamental right to free and compulsory education in a neighbourhood school.” It provides that both boys and girls of migrants, including nonPakistani families should benefit from attending schools.
93. At the federal level, Higher Education Commission (HEC) awards scholarships for higher education in Pakistan and in select universities abroad. Furthermore, programmes like Presidents’ Funni Maharat programme and Prime Minister’s Hunarmand Pakistan Programme have been introduced to increase opportunities of vocational training to the youth. In 2011-12, a total of 134, 118 youth received this training. 35
94. In the Punjab province, a sum of Rs 10 billion have been allocated to the Punjab Education Foundation for promotion of school education in marginalised areas through public-private partnership. Under the Women Empowerment Plan launched in 2012, the Punjab government plans to earmark at least 70 percent of jobs for women in primary education. About 60 percent of the funds out of Punjab Education Sector Reforms Programme will be earmarked for the provision of missing facilities for girls’ schools in the Annual Development Plan for 2012-13.
95. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has announced an educational emergency in the province aimed at improving literacy rates and standards of education. It has increased its educational budget to 4 percent of its GDP and has allocated 64 Billion PKR for education in the 2012-13 budget. The province has also introduced a policy of establishing daycare centers in women colleges to facilitate students and teachers. 96. In Sindh and Balochistan budget allocations for education have been increased considerably. 36 Sindh will spend PKR 9 billion on education while Balochistan has allocated PKR 22.4 billion for the education sector, most of which would be spent on renovation of school buildings.
Download the report http://www.upr-info.org/IMG/pdf/A_HRC_WG6_2_PAK_1_E.pdf