ISLAMABAD: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Pakistan Abdullah A. Fadil called on the Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui on Tuesday and discussed the challenges being faced by the education sector of Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani in addition to senior officials of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
Federal Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui welcomed Abdullah A. Fadil and appreciated the services of UNICEF in the education sector of Pakistan.
He commended the role of UNICEF in helping Pakistan in its bid to create equal access to quality education for the public.
The minister said that there was an urgent need to address the problem of out-of-school children and the broader gap in access and quality of education on an emergency basis.
Dr. Khalid said that the Ministry of Education was working on a holistic plan to create a National Education Framework under which the federation and the provinces would be equal stakeholders.
He said that this policy would be launched within a month and would bring all the stakeholders on the same page.
Dr. Khalid said that all the provinces along with donor partners would be taken on board to create a national consensus.
Dr. Khalid said that the primary objective was to drastically reduce the out-of-school children in Pakistan and that can only be done with a national, focused, and concerted effort.
Secretary Education Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani said that this seemingly insurmountable crisis could only be addressed if we can make the solution to the education crisis a cornerstone of the broader narrative of economic progress.
Wani said that the federal government would give support to the underprivileged areas of the provinces such as slums to ensure broader inclusiveness under the National Education Policy.
UNICEF in Pakistan
Abdullah A. Fadil said that UNICEF has been working in Pakistan since 1948. UNICEF supports efforts to increase access to quality education for all children in the country, with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations. This includes initiatives to improve school enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes, as well as promoting child-friendly and inclusive learning environments.
