The two days Interactive workshop on Early Childhood Experiential Learning (ECEL) in collaboration with Punjab Education Foundation (PEF) and UNICEF was held in Quaid-e-Azam Academy for Education Department (formerly Directorate for Staff Development) with Secretary School Education Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik in the chair.
Aim of the workshop was to impart knowledge on ECEL among school owners, head teachers, teacher and communities and to share lessons learnt in ECEL project. Tariq Mahmood MD PEF, Angela Kearney Country Representative UNICEF, Douglas G. Higgins, Chief of Field office UNICEF, Rubina Nadeem educational specialist UNICEF, Syed Mubashar Hussain Addl. Program Director Quaid-e-Azam Academy, Asif Abrar Education Officer UNICEF, Aisha Nauman Dir CPDP, PEF head teachers, teachers, caregivers, monitoring staff, master trainers and other staff attended the workshop.
Dr Allah Bakhsh Malik Secretary School Education Department said that ECEL would be a milestone initiative of the foundation which would give self-confidence to the budding minds as high quality education, early in life, gives children the best start. He opined the need to compile lessons learnt and their integration in system with sustainability.
Angela Kearney Country Representative UNICEF reiterated the commitment to work in collaboration with relevant departments to ensure achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 4, by ensuring equal access to quality early childhood development. She also appreciated the efforts of CM, Punjab & Minister School Education for promotion of education. She also emphasized on an inter-departmental collaboration to create opportunities for Early Childhood Development.
Tariq Mahmood MD PEF highlighted that kids who take part in quality ECEL are likely to be confident and curious about the world around them; and this will help them to do better than others. Quality schooling facility in early life gives such kids the best start to grow as self-confident citizen to take active part in national development.