In a historic milestone for the inaugural Sindh Children’s Parliament, Syeda Rida Batool Kazmi was sworn in as Chief Minister after achieving a decisive victory with 40 votes.
Her opponent, Ashok Kumar, a ninth-grade student from GHS Mithi Tharparkar, garnered 24 votes and assumed the role of opposition leader. Rida’s triumph marks a promising start for this groundbreaking initiative, highlighting the potential of young leadership.
The Thar Education Alliance, in collaboration with the Sindh Education & Literacy Department (SE&LD), Reform Support Unit (RSU), and UNICEF, launched this initiative to empower children and advocate for the right to education across Sindh.
Children from 30 districts participated, with two representatives chosen from each district and six students selected from the Sujawal district. These young leaders now represent their communities in the Children’s Parliament.
Syeda Rida Batool Kazmi, a 10th-grade student from GGHSS Tando Allahyar, shared her aspirations during a media interaction. She expressed how the Children’s Parliament had inspired her belief that a woman could lead as the Chief Minister of Sindh. “Although the initiative focuses on children’s rights, I am confident that, with strong advocacy and collective efforts, we can bring meaningful change,” she stated.
Zainab Khan, an eighth-grade student from SEF PSP Badin, was elected as the Minister for Quality Education. She emphasized the urgent need to address education as a fundamental right, stating, “The reality is far from ideal. Through my role, I aim to help bring out-of-school children back into classrooms because children understand each other’s struggles best.”
Like these young leaders, other ministers and members took an oath to prioritize the reintegration of out-of-school children and to ensure that every child in Sindh has access to education and opportunities.
Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Chairman Iqbal Ditho affirmed that the commission is actively monitoring children’s rights, ensuring access to basic education, and issuing directives for government action.
Partab Shivani, CEO of the Thar Education Alliance, highlighted the collaborative effort between UNICEF, the Education Department, and RSU in establishing the Children’s Parliament. He emphasized that the initiative aims to reintegrate out-of-school children and create opportunities for learning and growth, paving the way for a brighter future.