Karachi: Over 55,000 children in Sindh have benefitted from the Sindh Technical Assistance for Development through Enhanced Education Programme (STA DEEP), a five-year pilot initiative supported by the European Union and UNICEF, which concluded today. The programme introduced decentralized school management, digital monitoring systems, and professional development for teachers to empower the School Education and Literacy Department (SELD) to better meet student needs.
According to United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, STA DEEP implemented a school clustering model that decentralized decision-making and administrative responsibilities to local cluster school heads, significantly improving monitoring and strengthening the capacity of educational stakeholders. The programme grouped 400 schools into 20 pilot clusters across 14 districts in Sindh, enhancing access to quality education and aligning schools more closely with the needs of their communities.
Zahid Ali Abbasi, Secretary Education, School Education and Literacy Department, expressed gratitude to the European Union and UNICEF for the successful implementation of the programme, which is recognized globally. He anticipates continued collaboration to achieve quality education in Sindh.
The European Union’s Head of Cooperation, Jeroen Willems, highlighted the importance of reflecting on the partnership’s successes to further improve education delivery at the local level. He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting education in Sindh and Pakistan through the Global Partnership for Education.
STA DEEP’s focus on modernizing teaching methodologies and continuous professional development for teachers has fostered active learning and motivation among students. The introduction of a digital monitoring system, including portable biometric devices for tracking teacher attendance, has enhanced accountability and improved educational resource management.
Abdullah Fadil, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, noted that the pilot established an innovative model for decentralizing school systems and is expected to pave the way for broader implementation of reforms in Sindh, promoting long-term educational sustainability.