Balochistan Point Voice of Nation
Mir Behram Baloch
QUETTA: Save the Children with the financial support of The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has successfully implemented the Balochistan Education Programme (BEP) in collaboration with the Education Department Government of Balochistan,
This was stated during the closing ceremony of Balochistan Education Programme (BEP) on 20th November 2014 at Quetta Press Club.
The event was attended by the Dutch Ambassador H.E. Marcel de Vink, Secretary Education Mr. Saboor Ahmed Kakar, representatives of the implementing partners IDO, SCSPEB and SEHER and representatives of other Civil Society Organizations. Teachers, students, members of the Parent Teacher School Management Committees and members of the district administration of Quetta, Mastung and Killa Abdullah also attended the event.
According to the Save the Children officials, The geographic focus of the programme over the last five years were three districts of Balochistan including Mastung, Killa Abdullah and Quetta. Under this programme, 25 girls’ schools have been upgraded from primary level to middle level, 10 girls’ schools have been upgraded from middle to high level, 105 Early Childhood Education centers have been developed, and 200 schools have been provided missing facilities such as washrooms, boundary walls, water tanks, flooring and renovation. Moreover, the BEP also provided support to the Education Department for enhancing its planning, budgeting and management capacities through the establishment of Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) in the three focused districts.
Besides, these 1100 teachers have also been trained on child friendly teaching methodologies, Child Protection, Positive Discipline, Disaster Risk Reduction, School Health & Nutrition and Child Focused Health Education. Furthermore, 300 teachers were also trained on national curriculum of Early Childhood Education. Govt. officials were also trained on Education of Leadership Management and Faculty of PITE and BOC were trained on Peace Education and Emergent Literacy & Math. Under BEP, Literacy Boost – an innovative, evidence based action research was piloted in 20 schools and communities of Quetta wherein 24 teachers were trained on pedagogies of basic reading skills while Numeracy Boost action research was piloted in 18 schools and communities of Quetta to enhance the capacity of 18 teachers on Number & Operations, Measurement and Geometry.
During the closing ceremony, students from various focused schools presented plays and tableaus to express their feelings about the impacts of the Balochistan Education Programme. With their performances, students highlighted the importance of School Health and Nutrition activities and stressed that cleanliness is an integral part of a healthy and successful school life.
Giving a detailed presentation on the achievements of the Balochistan Education Program, Manager Education and Child Development, Save the Children, Mr. Haroon Rasheed Kasi briefed the audience about the successful implementation and milestones of the Balochistan education Program (BEP). “The construction of science and computer laboratories in the 10 upgraded girls’ schools along with the training of teachers & 300 secondary grade students of these schools on Information Communication Technology is a major step towards providing quality and modern education to the girls of Balochistan” Mr. Kasi added.
Speaking on the occasion, the Dutch Ambassador H.E. Marcel de Vink said that “Education and development are for everyone. Education drives a country forward. It brings growth, prosperity and development at all levels of society, to men and women, young and old. It is also essential sector in Paksitan not just the Netherlands has for a very long time been supporting the women and girls.
Secretary Education Balochistan, Mr. Saboor Khan Kakar appreciated the effort by the Save the Children supporting education department for girls education he also thanked Netherlands for their technical and facial support.
Towards the end of the event, all the key stakeholders of the Balochistan Education Program were presented shields to appreciate their coordination, support and contribution to the Balochistan Education Program.
Published in The Balochistan Point on November 23, 2014
