The government is not only focusing on bringing out of school children to school, but also working on improving learning outcomes of those who are in school, said Secretary for Federal Education & Professional Training Imtiaz Tajwar. This he stated while addressing a one-day education conference 'Pakistan Innovation Corridor' organised by Ilm Ideas - Pakistan Education Fund supported by the UK's Department for International Development.
Pakistan Innovation Corridor was a platform for showcasing transformational work undertaken by a range of Pakistan-based education institutions, innovators and activists who have developed effective solutions to create access to quality education, in partnership with Ilm Ideas.
The Constitution of Pakistan makes it the state's responsibility to "provide free and compulsory education to all children age 5-16 years in such a manner as may be determined by law," he added. Tajwar further said that the ASER data shows that learning outcomes are dismal. Only 63 percent children in class 5 are able to read a story in Urdu and only 57 percent can read a sentence in English. Although things are improving and according to another report of ASER 2014, over 40 percent children in Punjab are now enrolled in non-government institutions.
The scale of the challenge and the shifts in the education landscape require us to think innovatively and act collectively, emphasized the Secretary Education. Ilm Ideas is a commendable effort in this direction and Department for International Development (DFID) should be commended for taking the lead in creating such a programme.
This programme has encouraged and supported sector players to think out of the box and come up with sustainable products and services that improve the quality and access to education. He further said that education is not only about learning; it is a multi-dimensional process that ultimately affects our people, our economy, and our society. With 35 percent or more of Pakistan's population under the age of 15, we have a tremendous responsibility to equip this huge young population with education that enables them to become productive citizens of the future.
Secretary said that the solutions and ideas that are being presented are impressive but should be seen only as a start. We need this process of novelty and teamwork to continue and we are committed to supporting the process, he added. The conference was attended by regional and international education experts who shared their views on global education innovation trends and experiences in tackling education deficits in their respective countries.
Pakistan ranks 113 out of 120 countries in the Global Education Development Index, to overcome challenges faced by the education sector in Pakistan innovation solutions are required. It also has the second highest out of school children population of which 30 percent are primary school aged girls, and 64 percent children are from the poorest households.
Among those who do make it to school, a large proportion of children are at risk of drop-out. Around a quarter of children who reach grade 5 cannot read sentences; 50 percent of the boys and nearly 60 percent girls cannot read sentences in Urdu; 62 percent of the girls cannot do basic division. Zehra Zaidi, Team Leader Ilm Ideas Programme, reiterated the critical need for out of the box solutions for addressing educations deficits in Pakistan, focusing on the need for innovative interventions in crisis hit or conflict affected populations in Pakistan.
Zehra said that "Ilm Ideas under the Education Innovation Fund was successful in piloting and testing of 33 innovative education solutions in Pakistan, which have demonstrated potential to change education outcomes." She further added "We must learn from and replicate excellent regional examples of education innovation to improve access to quality education for all Pakistani children." Judith Herbertson, Deputy Head and Head of Basic Services Group, DFID in her closing remarks said "All of the promising work showcased at today's event shows the immense potential and expertise that Pakistan possesses to address the significant education challenges facing the country - including access to quality education and improving learning outcomes. Ilm ideas have helped create a platform to focus on sustainable and innovative education solutions. In order for these ideas to make a difference to the education system and to children across the country, however, government and other partners will need to embrace new solutions and consider different ways of delivering quality education."