Partnership with European Union & UNICEF strengthened Balochistan education system: Raheela

QUETTA, Jun 23 (APP):Balochistan Education Minister Raheela Hammed Khan Durrani on Tuesday said that in line with the vision of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the decade-long partnership with the European Union and UNICEF has played a significant role in strengthening the education system of Balochistan and bringing positive change in the lives of millions of children.

She expressed these views while addressing at a grand ceremony organized in the provincial capital Quetta to mark the successful completion of the five-year Balochistan Education Support Programme (BES-II) launched by the Government of Balochistan in collaboration with the European Union and UNICEF.

  The closing ceremony of the BSP project was attended by Secretary Education Schools Lal Jan Jafar, senior government officials, representatives of the European Union, UNICEF, Balochistan Education Department and development partner institutions.

Provincial Education Minister Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani said in her address that education is the foundation of sustainable development, social stability and prosperity of Balochistan.

She also appreciated the continuous support of the European Union and UNICEF and said that this program not only provided access to education to children but also paved the way for sustainable reforms in the education system.

She expressed her resolve that the government of Balochistan would continue its efforts to provide quality education to every child of the province, especially girls.

She mentioned that these include Balochistan’s first digital school census, a real-time monitoring system for schools, and the establishment of a virtual academy, through which more than 10,600 teachers were trained, in addition, more than 4,000 teachers received professional development opportunities, while 3,000 Parent Teacher School Management Committees were activated, with more than 16,000 community members participating.

The program resulted in significant improvements in access to education. More than 20,000 primary-level out-of-school children and more than 2,200 middle-level children were re-enrolled in the educational mainstream through accelerated learning programs, the majority of whom were girls, she stated.

She said that in addition, more than 150,000 children benefited from initiatives to improve the learning environment in 1,230 schools, while more than 6,100 youth were provided with skills essential for future education and employment.

The Minister said that the program played a significant role in ensuring the continuity of children’s education even during emergencies and natural disasters, during this period, more than 6,600 flood-affected children were provided with educational support, while more than 72,000 adolescent girls and 26,000 children were provided with health, sanitation and screening facilities, which improved their well-being and educational performance.

Addressing the participants of the ceremony on this occasion, Secretary Schools Balochistan Lal Jan Jafar said that with the financial support of 17.4 million euros from the European Union, more than 760,000 children across Balochistan were provided with quality education, improved teaching environment and learning opportunities under the programme running from 2021 to 2026.

He said that during this period, about 335,000 female students also benefited from the programme, which strengthened the goals of promoting girls’ education and gender equality in the province.

Dr. Sebastian Lorion, Acting Head of EU Cooperation for Pakistan, said that investing in education and skills is actually investing in the future of Balochistan.

He reiterated the commitment that the EU would continue its support to promote education in Balochistan and strengthen the education system.

Pernell Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, said that as a result of the joint efforts of the Government of Balochistan, the European Union and UNICEF, millions of children got a second chance to acquire education and skills.

He said that this program is a great example of how effective government leadership, community involvement and international partnerships can lay a strong foundation for a bright future for children. At the end of the event, the commitment was reiterated that the cooperation between the Government of Balochistan, the European Union and UNICEF would continue and be further strengthened to ensure the provision of quality, equitable and sustainable educational opportunities for every child in Balochistan.