The collaborative efforts between UNICEF and the Pakistani government reflect a shared commitment to address critical challenges.
Islamabad: In a significant development aimed at bolstering education accessibility and quality across Pakistan, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Pakistan, Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil, met with the Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, today. The meeting, attended by Secretary Education Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani and senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, underscored the commitment of both UNICEF and the government towards addressing key challenges in the education sector.
Federal Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui warmly welcomed Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil and expressed appreciation for UNICEF’s invaluable contributions to the education sector in Pakistan. Acknowledging the pressing need to tackle issues such as Out of School Children and disparities in education access and quality, Dr. Khalid emphasized the urgency of implementing comprehensive measures to address these challenges.
Dr. Khalid outlined the Ministry’s efforts towards formulating a National Education Framework, aimed at ensuring equal stakeholder participation from both federal and provincial levels. This inclusive policy, set to launch within a month, seeks to garner national consensus and concerted action to significantly reduce the number of Out of School Children in Pakistan.
Secretary Education Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani emphasized the importance of integrating solutions to the education crisis within the broader narrative of economic progress. He highlighted the federal government’s commitment to supporting underprivileged areas, such as slums, to foster inclusivity under the National Education Policy.
Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil reiterated UNICEF’s longstanding commitment to enhancing access to quality education for all children in Pakistan. He underscored UNICEF’s focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations, emphasizing initiatives to improve school enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes.
Highlighting UNICEF’s increased budget allocation for education programs in Pakistan, Mr. Abdullah expressed readiness to collaborate under the National Education Policy framework. He highlighted the role of the Foundational Learning Alliance in supporting the concerted efforts towards education reform.
Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui emphasized the need to dismantle barriers to education access, stressing the importance of quality education for all, regardless of background. He underscored the challenges of infrastructure, curriculum, and teacher training as priority areas for intervention.
In a proactive move, the Ministry of Education launched a National Nutritional Strategy to provide meals to underprivileged students in Islamabad, ensuring their regular attendance. Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil acknowledged the importance of Early Childhood Development (ECD) and pledged to support a pilot project in Islamabad to expand its scope.
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The collaborative efforts between UNICEF and the Pakistani government reflect a shared commitment to address critical challenges in the education sector, paving the way for a brighter future for Pakistan’s youth.
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