Under 12 Students Allowed To Sit Class IX Exam
A Lahore High Court division bench has provisionally allowed students under 12 years of age to sit the class IX examination.
The bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh directed the Lahore Education Board to entertain the forms of students for registration for class IX examinations.
Earlier, Advocate Sheraz Zaka representing the students argued that imposing age limit of 12 years was a violation of the fundamental right of securing education. He said there was no restriction of age limit in parallel O & A level education system.
The lawyer argued that no provision in Punjab Free and Compulsory Education Act 2014 imposed such condition. He said it was discrimination that in order to appear in class IX exams a student had to be 12 years of age and this policy of the Board was a violation of Article 25-A of the Constitution, which ensured free and compulsory primary education.
He argued that on one hand the Punjab government promoted education for everyone and on the other imposed restriction of age which was “harsh”.
The bench granted interim relief to the students allowing them to sit the examinations and adjourned hearing till Jan 17, 2017.
Previously published in DAWN and republished here with permission.
