Pakistan’s Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has decided to withdraw a notification recommending dance competitions at schools as part of the UNESCO #DanceForEducation campaign.
The majority of schools and colleges in Islamabad are under the administration of FDE.
Issued around a week ago on March 29, the notification titled “Dance for Education” was accompanied by a letter from the FDE deputy director. The letter enthusiastically invited participation in UNESCO’s #Dance for Education campaign, coinciding with the release of the song “Education in the Air” by Goodwill Ambassador A’Salfo and Magic System. It aimed to emphasize education’s transformative power and its role in creating a more just and sustainable world. Schools were encouraged to share their dance activities on social media, with the campaign scheduled to run until May 25. The best submissions were promised a feature on UNESCO’s social media platform.
However, local media reported negatively on the campaign, with at least one news report labeling it as “sinful,” especially for girls in both urban and rural areas.
The authorities made the decision to withdraw the notification on Saturday. Sources indicated that the order was deemed contrary to Islamic teachings, prompting the education ministry to cancel it.
