ISLAMABAD: Over 80 stakeholders from across Pakistan convened in Islamabad for a national education workshop, emphasizing the urgent need to expand Accelerated Learning Programmes (ALPs). These programs aim to provide educational opportunities to disadvantaged, out-of-school children and youth whose education has been disrupted. The workshop, which included representatives from Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, focused on collaboration and best practices to meet the substantial educational demands within the country.

According to The UN Refugee Agency, the workshop was jointly organized by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The discussions highlighted the current educational crisis, with UNHCR’s Representative in Pakistan, Ms. Philippa Candler, acknowledging the Pakistani government’s support for refugee education. She pointed out the global issue of over 250 million children being out of school, including 26 million from Pakistan and 500,000 refugee children. Ms. Candler stressed the importance of programs like ALP in helping these individuals access primary and secondary education, especially focusing on girls and young women.

Mr. Naoaki Miyata, Country Chief of JICA, also addressed the workshop, noting that with 67 percent of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, the country is at a crucial point. He emphasized JICA’s role in developing human capital by enhancing access to quality education, which will be critical in addressing the challenges faced by out-of-school children. Additionally, Mr. Sohail Akhtar Malik from the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training highlighted the government’s recognition of an education emergency, advocating for innovative and cost-effective educational solutions, including digital approaches through the ALP.

The workshop concluded with plans for provincial consultations and national technical discussions in September, aiming to develop a unified strategy for accelerated education that ensures accreditation and effective support for all children, irrespective of their status.