Right to Education – Public Interest Law Association of Pakistan v. Government of Sindh and others

Pakistan has a dismal state of education. According to UNICEF, 22.8 million children between the ages of 5 and 16 are currently out of school across the country. This is despite the fact that the Constitution safeguards the right to free and compulsory education as a fundamental right for all children between the ages of 5 and 16 under Article 25A. After the 18^th Constitutional amendment after which the subject of education has been devolved upon the Provinces, the Sindh Provincial Assembly passed the Sindh Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2013 which encapsulates the provisions of Article 25A. Despite the passing of this Act and the fundamental right to education safeguarded by Article 25A, the Government of Sindh spends a pitiful amount on education—1.6 percent of total GDP.  Due to this failure of the Government, PILAP has filed a Writ Petition against the Sindh Government through the Department of Education and Federal Ministry of Education and Professional Training seeking enforcement of this fundamental right. The Petition has been filed before the Sindh High Court. PILAP is currently part of a Court-appointed Commission tasked with drafting a Provincial education plan.