25 girls’ schools upgraded to middle level in Balochistan

QUETTA: Save the Children with the financial support of The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has successfully implemented the Balochistan Education Programme (BEP) in collaboration with the provincial education department.

The geographic focus of the programme, over the last five years, were three provincial districts Mastung, Killa Abdullah and the provincial capital.

Under this programme, 25 girls’ schools have been upgraded from primary level to middle level, 10 girls’ schools have been upgraded from middle to high level, 105 early childhood education centres have been developed, 200 schools have been provided with washrooms, boundary walls, water tanks, flooring and renovation.

Moreover, the BEP also provided support to the education department to enhance its plan, budget and management capacities through the establishment of education management information systems (EMIS) in the three focused districts.

Besides, 1,100 teachers have been trained on child-friendly teaching methodologies, child protection, positive discipline, disaster-risk reduction, school health and nutrition and child-focused health education.

Furthermore, 300 teachers were also trained on the national curriculum of early childhood education. The government officials were also trained on education of leadership management and the faculty of Provincial Institute for Teacher Education (PITE) was trained on peace education and emergent literacy and math.

Under “BEP, Literacy Boost: an innovative”, evidence-based action research was piloted in 20 schools and communities of the provincial capital wherein 24 teachers were trained on pedagogies of basic reading skills while numeracy boost action research was piloted in 18 schools and communities to enhance the capacity of 18 teachers on number and operations, measurement and geometry. Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink, Education Secretary Saboor Ahmed Kakar and representatives of other civil society organisations attended the event.

Giving a detailed presentation on the achievements of BEP, Save the Children Manager Education and Child Development Haroon Rasheed Kasi briefed the audience about the successful implementation and milestones of BEP.

“The construction of science and computer laboratories in the 10 upgraded girls’ schools along with the training of teachers and 300 secondary grade students of these schools on information communication technology is a major step towards providing quality and modern education to the girls of Balochistan,” he said. “Education and development are for everyone. Education drives a country forward. It brings growth, prosperity and development at all levels of society, to men and women, young and old. It is also an essential sector in Pakistan and Netherlands, for a very long time, has been supporting the women and girls’ education,” Dutch Ambassador Marcel de Vink said.

Provincial Education Secretary Saboor Khan Kakar appreciated the efforts of Save the Children to support girls’ education and thanked the Dutch government for their technical and facial support. During the closing ceremony, students from various schools presented plays to express their feeling in order to show the impact of the Balochistan Education Programme. With their performances, they highlighted the importance of school health and nutrition activities and stressed that cleanliness was an integral part of a healthy and successful school life.

Key stakeholders of the Balochistan Education Programme were also presented shields to appreciate their coordination, support and contribution.

Daily Times