Punjab Education Minister Renews Call for Global Action on Education Rights for Kashmir and Palestine Children

Lahore, Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat once again championed the rights of children in Kashmir and Palestine during the final session of the ongoing World Education Conference in London. He was the sole education minister among the 130 present at the World Education Forum to highlight the plight of these children.

Addressing the participants of the conference, Rana Sikandar Hayat emphasized, “Today, we are all gathered here for the educational future of our children. But aren’t the children of Kashmir and Palestine our children as well?” He appealed to the Education World Forum, lamenting that while there are education ministers from 130 countries present, none have shown concern for the children of Kashmir and Palestine. “Before we leave today, give some thought to ensuring the safe education of these children,” he urged.

He called on the assembled ministers not to waste this opportunity, but to leverage this gathering to advocate for the educational rights of the oppressed children. Rana Sikandar Hayat further highlighted the perilous educational future faced by the children of Kashmir and Palestine, criticizing the lack of action from both the Islamic community and the World Education Forum. “There is a ban on attending school in Kashmir, and schools in Palestine are being demolished without hesitation,” he pointed out. He urged the forum to raise a unified voice for the restoration of education in these regions, stressing the need for a collective effort to secure their educational future.

“In any region where children are oppressed, we should not remain silent. Education is not tied to any religion, and preventing children from accessing education is the worst form of fascism,” he added. “The power of a country should not mean that the doors of education are closed to children.”

Rana Sikandar Hayat concluded by warning that if the forum of educational representatives from 130 countries fails to raise its voice for the restoration of education and a secure future for the children of Kashmir and Palestine, it will be a significant injustice.