The Baluchistan Compulsory Education Act 2014 Passed in

The Baluchistan Compulsory Education Act, 2014 Passed in February 4 th, 2014 by the Baluchistan Provincial Assembly By Izzah Meyer – Manager Policy, Research and Action

THE BALUCHISTAN COMPULSORY EDUCATION ACT, 2014 To provide free and compulsory education in the province of Baluchistan. This act has 12 chapters and 13 articles (Sub sections). A brief outline of each chapter is as follows:

Chapter 1 – Short Title, Extent, and Commencement This chapter covers article 1, 2 and 3 and states that This act extends to the whole of Baluchistan except the Tribal Areas and shall come to force from the 12 th day of June, 2013

Chapter 2 – Definitions • This chapter includes critical definitions such as “child”, “education”, “free education”, “management committee” and so on.

Chapter 3 – Compulsory Education This chapter states that parents must send their children to schools and “ensure the child has completed the highest level of education course offered in the schools” It also states that “in case of mental or physical disability, the parent shall cause the child to attend a special education school within the “area” of his residence”

Chapter 4 – Formation of Parent School Management Committee – This chapter contains articles 4, 5 and 6 – It states that committees are to be formed through a democratic process – It further lists all the powers and functions that the Management Committee shall exercise. Some are as follows: • Motivate parents and children to enroll in schools • Maintain and update a list of children liable to attend schools in its area • Render all necessary help to Government officials engaged in the work of compulsory education in the area • Take care of discipline and physical structures, other assets of school and carry out minor/petty repairs etc.

Chapter 5 – Issues of Attendance Order by the Management Committee This chapter states that “where the management committee is satisfied that a parent who is bound under the provisions of Section 3 to cause child to attend a school has failed to do so, the parent school management committee may, after giving the parent an opportunity of being heard, and after such inquiry as it considers necessary, pass an order directing the parent to cause child to attend a school from a date which shall be specified in order. ”

Chapter 6 – Reasonable Excuse for Non Attendance • Outlines reasons that allow non-attendance including cases in which a child is receiving alternative instructions which are deemed sufficient by the Prescribed Authority • And where no school is within a distance of 2 kms

Chapter 7 – School Attendance Authority This chapter includes articles 7, 8 and 9 – It highlights appointments of multiple School Attendance Authorities for purposes of this Act – Further It outlines the responsibilities of a School Attendance Authority.

Chapter 8 – Offences This chapter includes articles 10 and 11 and it talk about repercussions of not sending children to schools. – It states “parents who fail to comply with an order issued under sub-section 3 of section 7 shall on conviction before a Magistrate first class be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees to the minimum and with further fine which may extend to fifty rupees for every day to the minimum after the conviction for which the failure continues or with imprisonment which may extend to one week or with both. ”

Chapter 9 – Cognizance of Offence • This chapter briefs on that only courts having territorial jurisdiction shall take cognizance of an offence under section 8.

Chapter 10 – Provision of Education by the Provincial Government This chapter states that the government shall make facilities for Education available in the Province

Chapter 11 - Power of Provincial Government to Make Rules • This chapter states that the Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act

Chapter 12 - Repeal and Saving • The final chapter repeals the Baluchistan Primary Education Ordinance and the Baluchistan Compulsory and Free Education Ordinance and states that if the any penalty or punishment imposed, powers confessed or rules made/ orders issues shall continue IF they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this act.