Federal Directorate of Education withdraws from UNESCO’s school dance campaign

Pakistan has withdrawn from UNESCO’s school dance campaign.

On Saturday, Pakistan’s Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) officially withdrew the notification recommending dance competition at schools under the UNESCO #DanceForEducation campaign.

The development comes amid the negative reporting in local media about the campaign.

Earlier a notification titled “Dance for Education” was issued on March 29 directed to the schools and and colleges especially in Islamabad which  are operated by FDE.

It was followed by a letter from the FDE deputy director, reading, “I am excited to invite you to join UNESCO’s #Dance for Education campaign. This initiative coincides with the release of the song “Education in the Air” by Goodwill Ambassador A’Salfo and Magic System. It aims to highlight education’s transformative power and its role in shaping a more just and sustainable world.”

The letter also advised schools to share their dance activities on social media.

The campaign runs until May 25 and the best submission will be featured on UNESCO’s social media platform.

According to the news source, the campaign was deemed against Islamic teaching and the education ministry cancelled it.