Islamabad, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) representative in Pakistan, Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil, met with the Minister of Federal Education and Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, to discuss strategies for improving education in the country, with a focus on addressing the issue of Out-of-School Children and promoting equal access to quality education.
According to Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the meeting was attended by Secretary Education Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani, along with senior officials from the ministry. Dr. Siddiqui expressed his appreciation for UNICEF’s efforts in supporting education in Pakistan and emphasized the urgent need to address the education gap, focusing on an emergency response to reduce the number of Out-of-School Children.
Dr. Siddiqui explained that the ministry is working on a National Education Framework, bringing together the federation and provinces as equal stakeholders. The framework, expected to be launched within a month, aims to create a national consensus on addressing education issues and will involve all provinces and donor partners in the effort to drastically reduce Out-of-School Children.
Secretary Education Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani highlighted that the education crisis can only be solved by making it central to the broader narrative of economic progress. He stated that the federal government would focus on supporting underprivileged areas such as slums to ensure inclusiveness in the National Education Policy.
Mr. Abdullah A. Fadil emphasized UNICEF’s long-standing commitment to Pakistan’s education sector since 1948, focusing on marginalized and vulnerable populations. He noted that UNICEF’s education program budget in Pakistan, which was $150 million from 2018-2013, has increased to approximately $250 million for the next five years. He also mentioned that the Foundational Learning Alliance, which includes all major donors in Pakistan, would support the National Education Policy.
During the meeting, Dr. Siddiqui highlighted the importance of ending the “feudalisation” of education, ensuring that all Pakistanis can access quality education regardless of their background. He underscored the need for collaboration between provinces and the federal government to tackle challenges in education, including teachers’ training, infrastructure, and curriculum limitations.
Mr. Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani shared details of the National Nutritional Strategy, where meals are provided to underprivileged students in Islamabad to encourage school attendance. Early Childhood Development (ECD) was also discussed, with UNICEF committing to launching a pilot ECD project in Islamabad.