Karachi, August 16, 2018 (PPI-OT): The School Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh, in collaboration with Unicef launched on Thursday ‘Sindh Enrollment and Retention Drive Phase II’ to disseminate key messages and create ownership among relevant stakeholders and officials of SELD for increased enrollment of out-of-school children. Ms Cristina Brugiolo, Chief of Unicef Sindh, was also present on the occasion. During the phase I, five regional programmes were organized in the months of April and May 2018. All 29 districts successfully organized district level workshops resulting in development of respective district’s enrollment action plan along with activities for community mobilization and awareness at Taluka and school levels.
A total of 29,228 (68.96 per cent) government schools reported new enrollment out of 42,383 government schools. Total new enrollment reported by 68.96 per cent schools is 490,163 children; Boys 305,261 (62 per cent) and Girls 184,902 (38 per cent). Enrollment reporting from 13,610 schools is in process and it is assumed that approx. 280,000 new enrollment will be reported and total enrollment will reach to 770,163 students; which is approx. 20,000 children increase against the last year enrollment. Larkana region enrollment is high, which stands at 27 per cent of the total reported enrollment, followed by Shaheed Benazirabad and Hyderabad i.e 22pc.
Addressing the launch ceremony held at a local hotel, SELD secretary Ms Alia Shahid said that the department unveiled a Rolling Work Plan and worked on it. “We’re proud to achieve our targets” she said. She said that bringing all out-of-school children to the classroom was an uphill task. So for that reason we worked with communities to bring about social behavioural change, formulated communication strategies and social mobilization of communities and parents.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Program Manager of Reform Support Unit Mr Hussain Soomro said that it was a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to the Sindh Enrolment and Retention Drive 2018 Phase II. Earlier, we completed successfully the phase I of the campaign in collaboration with Unicef. With this partnership we have been implementing different targets under Rolling Work Plan, SELD and Unicef have planned to achieve 100 per cent enrollment and retention of children (boys and girls) in schools.
He appreciated the cooperation by international bodies and their active engagement in enrollment and retention drive. It may be mentioned that the department organized 29 enrollment walks at district level for awareness of communities. Public service messages (PSMs) were broadcast through radios on enrollment drive to disseminate message to all, especially marginalized communities.
For more information, contact:
Reform Support Unit (RSU)
Education and Literacy Department, Government of Sindh
47-E/1 – 48th Street, Block-6, PECHS, Nursery,
Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-34320241-5
Website: http://www.rsu-sindh.gov.pk