The Pakistan Federal Directorate of Education has retracted a notice proposing a dance contest in schools as part of the UNESCO #DanceForEducation initiative.
A majority of educational institutions, particularly in Islamabad, are managed by the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE).
A week prior, on March 29th, a notice titled “Dance for Education” was released. This was subsequently accompanied by a letter from the FDE’s deputy director.
The note stated, “We are thrilled to extend an invitation for you to participate in UNESCO’s #Dance for Education campaign. This endeavor aligns with the launch of the song ‘Education in the Air,’ created by Goodwill Ambassador A’Salfo and Magic System.”
The purpose is to emphasize education’s ability to bring about significant change and its part in creating a fairer and more environmentally sound world.
The letter encouraged schools to publicize their dance events on social media. This campaign continues until May 25th, with the top submission being showcased on UNESCO’s social media outlets.
Nevertheless, the local media featured unfavorable coverage regarding the campaign. One news report even mentioned that girls from both urban and rural areas were invited to participate in “the sinful campaign.”
On Saturday, the authorities decided to remove the announcement.
According to various sources, the order was found to be contradictory to Islamic teachings, leading the education ministry to cancel it.
