Project location : Mardan, NWFP
Project start and end dates : April 2008 to March 2011
Project description
BEFARe has initiated a program with the support of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for out-of-school children in district Mardan. According to the statistics of Ministry of Education (MoE), some 3 million children are out-of-school in NWFP alone. Working closely with the MOE, BEFARe organized need assessment survey to identify areas with appropriate number of out-of-school children initially in Mardan, who either had no access to schools or were dropped-out in early years, due to a number of reasons. BEFARe signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MoE for implementation of program in 10 government and community based schools. BEFARe has identified 10 schools to enroll 250 out-of-school children in district Mardan. The project staff has so far registered 262 out-of-school children in union councils of Babozai, Shamozai and Alo in Katlang education circle of district Mardan. BEFARe is using premises of 7 government and 2 community-based schools to execute the project. School management committees (SMCs) have also been established around the schools.
BEFARe is working with National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Ministry of Education (MoE) and local organizations besides a CBO to implement the program. Most of the girl students belong to poor and underprivileged rural families and live in poor conditions. BEFARe is implementing an accelerated curricula approved by the Government of Pakistan and is enabling students to enroll in grade six after three years of continuous study. Ten female teachers are implementing the program. BEFARe organized meetings with parents-teachers councils (PTCs) wherein they assured utmost cooperation during project implementation.
Teachers’ trainings are regularly organized for updating them on emerging pedagogical concepts. Free books along with stationery were distributed among the students for initial orientation with the books and its contents. The three-year program aims to bring out-of-school children back to school by providing better education facilities at project schools. The project will not only educate these girls for continuing middle and secondary education but will also enhance capacities of ten teachers in providing basic education.
Goal
Vulnerable children have improved access to quality primary education through child friendly accelerated curriculum.
Objectives:
- Increased Educational Opportunity for Vulnerable Children in target areas.
- Improved Quality Education for Vulnerable Children in targeted Communities.
- Communities are engaged to Support Quality Education.
- Capacity Building of Professional Staff.
- Linkage Development for Sustainability.
