Launch of Dubai Cares Project in Pakistan by Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agaahi (ITA)

Idara-e-Taleem-o-Agaahi (ITA) organized an official launch for the Dubai Cares Project in Pakistan on September 16, 2014 in Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi. The function began with a short overview of the program, followed by an official declaration of the launch by Dr. FazlUllah Pichuho, Additional Chief Secretary Education and Literacy Department- Government of Sindh, Nargis Sultana, Senior Program Officer for Education- Open Society Foundation, Saba Mahmood, Chief Program Manager in Education and Literacy Department; Government of Sindh, Dr. Kamaluddin, Deputy Focal Person in Policy and Planning Implementation Unit, Government of Balochistan and Mohammad Shahid Saleem, Deputy Director DSD in Government of Punjab. The project titled “Improving learning outcomes, enrolment and transitions from ECE to primary education especially for girls and vulnerable groups in Pakistan”, is the third project funded by Dubai cares with ITA as the chosen implementer in Pakistan.  

The project spans over three years from January 2014 till December 2016 and reaches out across the nation, targeting 520 schools with 385,800 beneficiaries. The designing of the program was undertaken through consultations with multiple stakeholders and policy officials in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab. The program aims to address quality and equity issues in education faced by Pakistan, specifically targeting early childhood education (3-5 years), enhanced enrollment and learning outcomes of out of school children, children at risk in school and transition from early childhood education to primary and post primary education.  It is as much informed by the provincial education sector plans as it is by the national/global commitments towards MDGs/EFA and current debates to finalize the post 2015 development agenda. The project targets are aligned to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) agreements in Sindh and Balochistan.  The scope of the program is intensively focused on Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab for all components whilst, selected innovative elements like Teachers Without Frontiers, Learning Metrics Task Force, the Children’s Literature Festival (CLF) and advocacy are nationwide. 

Baela Raza Jamil, Director Programs, Idara-e-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), said: “Following successful programs in Pakistan since 2008, in 2014 Dubai Cares made a bolder commitment to promote education in the most vulnerable areas of Sindh, Punjab and Baluchistan. This program is both relevant and innovative, keeping abreast of accelerated progress towards 2015 goals and beyond, ensuring a focus on girls’ education and capacity enhancement of female teachers in remote areas. The program will reach 385,800 beneficiaries; 3,770 schools and 205,200 communities; and train almost 12,800 teachers. ITA is honored to be working with Dubai Cares and the Government of Pakistan to march forward with scalable programs.”