Islamabad, 13 Oct 2023: In an affirmative move towards bolstering education for girls in flood-stricken regions of Pakistan, a Government Girls’ High School in Brep, Upper Chitral, which was severely impaired during the 2022 floods, was inaugurated on the 13th of October 2023 by H.E. Leslie Scanlon, High Commissioner of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and Mr. Samuel Rizk, Resident Representative, UNDP Pakistan. The event, unfolding in the presence of officials from the High Commission of Canada, Education Department, local administration, UNDP, students, teachers, and parents, symbolizes a stride towards revitalizing the education sector in areas beleaguered by natural disasters, according to a press release from UNDP.
Post the deleterious 2022 floods, the school building in Brep sustained extensive damage, culminating in a hazardous environment for both students and educators and hampering the academic progression of the girl students. In response to this, students were relocated to a nearby rented facility. In September 2022, Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, pledged to rehabilitate the school, allocating $80,000 for this purpose, as stated by the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development for Canada during his visit to the afflicted area.
The collaboration between Canada, UNDP, and the Education Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) not only achieved the rehabilitation and restoration of the Brep school but is part of a broader $58M commitment by Canada for flood response and resilience building in Pakistan, of which $33M was designated for immediate disaster response and another $25M will be deployed for prolonged resilience building and rehabilitation.
H.E. Leslie Scanlon, during the inauguration, elucidated Canada’s persistent endeavour to enhance and expand access to basic education in Pakistan, particularly focusing on reducing barriers for girls and addressing the educational needs of refugees, forcibly-displaced children/youth, and host communities.
The Brep School rehabilitation is embedded within the larger frame of the $7 million “Improved Access to Quality Education in the Merged Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” project. Funded by Global Affairs Canada and executed jointly by the UNDP, UNICEF, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Department of KP, the project has overseen the comprehensive rehabilitation of 102 girls’ schools, enhancing enrolment and the quality of education for approximately 14,000 girls across Kurram, Orakzai, and Upper Chitral. Concurrently, Canada has strengthened provincial education institutions, executed extensive enrolment campaigns, established Early Childhood Centres, and fortified the curriculum for training teachers in the province, underlining a holistic approach to substantively and sustainably uplift girls’ education.
UNDP, in line with its wider 2022 flood recovery programme, encompasses a robust, resilient recovery vision, blending humanitarian and development efforts, bridging immediate, medium-, and long-term response dimensions, and integrating gender equality and environmental sustainability into all activities. The strategy pivots on four key pillars: rebuilding housing and community infrastructure; livelihood recovery; restoring governance systems; and enhancing disaster resilience and environmental protection, aiming collectively to enhance resilience to natural hazards and climate change in Pakistan.
In specific reference to the Brep School, UNDP’s rehabilitation efforts incorporated several critical interventions, including debris removal, reconstruction and construction of walls and rooms, the provision of WASH facilities, repairs, and installations, electrification, and revitalization of IT and science lab spaces. Moreover, through the Canada-funded project, the school was provisioned with modern furniture, essential IT equipment, and advanced science lab apparatus, thereby transforming it into an institution capable of delivering quality education to over 150 girl students.
“The rehabilitation of this school is not just about repairing a building, it is about restoring hope and opportunity for young girls who deserve the chance to learn, grow and thrive in a safe and supportive environment,” remarked Mr. Samuel Rizk, solidifying UNDP’s commitment in conjunction with Canada and the Education Department of KP to continue advancing education and empowering children, especially girls, towards realizing their full potential.