When will the textbooks come?

How happy we were to see government advertisements splashed colourfully over half a page of our leading newspapers, advising parents of children in government schools not to buy any textbooks. They were to be provided free of cost to the students.

I thought of the happy parents who would read this out to their children who would then eagerly await the new books, thrilled with the idea of the very feel and look of a new book in their hands.

And then came a second thought. Who would read these ads? No, not the illiterate farmer and daily wage earner whose children attend government schools. Even if some of these parents can read, they cannot afford to buy a newspaper.

So, who was being targeted? Yes, you and I, the fortunate ones who can read and even afford to buy newspapers. We are expected to go into raptures and praise the government saying: “At last something is being done in the education sector.”

Then came a third thought. How much was spent on these ads which will never reach their target audience? It was in millions, I was told. These millions could have been spent more wisely on school improvement, even if it was one school or two - towards its library, a lab, washrooms, a compound wall, furniture  the multifarious needs of a school that can be termed genuine.

Intriguingly, the matter does not end here. The next question that will be asked, and not by me alone but by thousands and thousands of children and their parents, is: “When will the textbooks actually be available?”

It is mid-September. Schools reopened on Aug 9 and the children and teachers are still without textbooks. For them it’s a waiting disaster.

In this crisis, the responsibility rests with the Sindh Textbook Board and its patron, the Sindh education department. They knew when the academic session was to begin but failed to meet the deadline. Four chairmen have changed in as many months and only one had the grace to resign. The others clutched on to their posts tenaciously. Why? It seems to be a coveted position. The charges and countercharges of corruption that have been traded leaves one wondering as to what is happening there.

We only ask, when will the children get their textbooks? Will the books be good or will they be the usual shoddy stuff that the children have had to make do with all these years? We have been told that the new curriculum and syllabus have been revised and are now very good. Will the books do justice to them?

What do we do to enable our children to get their long-awaited books? Who is to blame? Why haven’t heads rolled? It shocks me that millions of children are suffering but no one seems to care. Why should they? The sufferers are not the children of the rich who would have raised hell if their children had been denied books.

The poor are voiceless and have no means to remind government officials that Pakistan is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Those who step into power with the votes of the poor have no time for the children of their constituents. They are too busy playing the blame game. 

ZUBEIDA A. DOSSAL
Karachi

Expulsion of Khar

It was very interesting to go through the news of Mr. Khar’s expulsion and I quote: “Mr. Khar had violated the conditions necessary for the party membership and, therefore, ceased to be a member of the party.

This was the ninth time Mr. Khar had left the party” The ninth departure is the bottom line and soul of the statement, which reflects the steadfastness of our politicians and the discipline in political parties.

It appears as if the Pakistan People’s Party has issued him a life long multiple entry visa and who can deny his right to use it at his own convenience. He can board any flight of his choice, from any airport, for any destination, with any Pakistani citizen.

Even, a small village teacher will not readmit a student after eight expulsions. But the PPP has generously given him at least eight chances earlier to improve his behaviour. Mr Khar will definitely take benefit of this kindness in future.

The repeated entry to and exit from the party is independent of any respect for rules, principles, party policies, personal integrity, ethics, decency, character, conscience, code of ,conduct, core values, loyalty and sincerity.

Socrates once said that his wisdom was limited to an awareness of his own ignorance, but the wisdom of our politicians is limited to total unawareness of -their unlimited ignorance.

The institution of politico - business should now be closed and they should honestly try to deliver what is demanded by the nation, 

MEHDI RIZVI
Pickering, Canada