Sindh government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), will organize a donor conference in September 2024 to address the issue of out-of-school children. This agreement was reached during a meeting between a UNICEF delegation and Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah on Wednesday, as stated in an official press release.
The UNICEF delegation included Country Representative Abdullah Fadal, Manager Education Abir Maqbool, and Education Specialist Asif Abra. Secretary of School Education Sindh Zahid Ali Abbasi and Chief Program Officer RSU Dr. Junaid Samo were also present.
UNICEF Country Representative Abdullah Fadal praised Sindh’s proactive stance on the out-of-school children issue and noted that the provincial government’s non-formal education initiatives are expected to yield positive outcomes. Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah emphasized that increasing the enrollment ratio and reintegrating out-of-school children into the education system is the government’s top priority. He believes that maintaining continuity in education is crucial to reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Minister Shah highlighted that non-formal education, upgrading primary schools, and providing transport facilities for girls in Sindh are key strategies to tackle this issue. The establishment of the Model School Support Unit in Sindh is expected to introduce a modern, facility-based education system.
The upcoming conference is anticipated to generate comprehensive suggestions for addressing the out-of-school children issue, which will aid in developing future strategies. The UNICEF delegation expressed their support for the Education Department’s “Science in Sindh” initiatives and assured their continued cooperation. They also agreed to invite all relevant institutions, organizations, and individuals to the donor conference.
Additionally, both parties agreed to form a non-formal education coordination committee to further the “Science in Sindh” initiative.
In a gesture of goodwill, the Sindh Education Minister presented the traditional gift of Sindhi Ajrak to the members of the UNICEF delegation.
