Islamabad, 19th February, 2018: Senator Sehar Kamran’s bill titled “National Civic Education Commission Act, 2017” was approved by Senate’s Standing Committee on Federal Education and Technical Training. Hailing this momentous occasion, Senator Kamran said it is indeed a historic day for the country and its future generations, as this legislation will ensure “to foster civic competence and responsibility amongst the citizens; educate people relating to fundamental rights and obligations of citizens; to highlight the importance of civic education in inculcating value citizenship, knowledge, skills and values and to deal with ancillary matters.”
Senator Sehar Kamran said the future of Pakistan and its 200 million people depends on continuity of democratic governance embedded in supremacy of the Constitution. She stated that it was unfortunate that even after seven decades of independence, core concepts like constitutionalism, federalism and representative democratic institutions have been missing from the textbooks, being taught to the children in schools, nationwide.
As the bill focuses on the need of civic education, its promotion in Pakistan and calls for the establishment of “National Civic Education Commission” through various channels, Senator Kamran opined that she hopes this commission will go beyond textbook approach, and adopt a practical approach to inculcate civic values which are vital to only promote democracy, but produce good citizens. She remarked that the citizen’s participation in a democratic society depends upon their knowledge about the key concepts like constitutionalism, federalism, as well as the parliament and its workings.
Senator Sehar Kamran further remarked that civic education and engagement is integral to raising moral and responsible citizens. This legislation will not only pave the path to raise active, efficient and socially responsible citizens but will also also strengthen democracy in the long term, she added.