UNESCO Islamabad and Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Government of Pakistan, signed a plan of operation for a Korean funded project to support Girls’ Right to Education in districts Bahawalpur and Muzaffargarh in South Punjab and Astore and Ganche in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The $ 3.4 million project with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will support national capacity building to realize girls’ right to education in Pakistan’s Punjab province and Gilgit-Baltistan, through interventions targeting education officials, community leaders, teachers and parents.
“The Republic of Korea’s support to UNESCO, especially to education, is extremely valuable in expanding the Malala Girls Right to Education Programme in four new districts for promotion of access and quality of girls’ education. It is encouraging that donors are showing interest in education sector in Pakistan, which is a testimony of their confidence in the present Government’s efforts for promotion of education in the country”. The Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Muhammad Baligh-Ur-Rehman, highlighted.
Ms. Vibeke Jensen, Representative UNESCO in Pakistan expressed her gratitude to the people of the Republic of Korea for supporting girls’ education in Pakistan. This support will enable UNESCO to expand the outreach of its exiting Girls Right to Education Programme in additional districts in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan where the indicators for girls’ education are very low. She appreciated the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for its unwavering support and ownership of the Girls Right to Education Programme in Pakistan.
Mr. Chung Jong Hyon, Country Head KOICA, Islamabad expressed his pleasure on collaboration with the Government of Pakistan and UNESCO for promotion of girls education in most needy areas of the country. He assured his continued cooperation for furthering the cause of Education in Pakistan.
The Government of Pakistan contributed $ 10 million to the Malala Funds in Trust for Girls Right to Education established in 2012, of which $ 7 million are earmarked for the Girls’ Right to Education programme in Pakistan. It was launched in 2015 to increase and improve the quality of girls’ education at primary level in four provinces and four federal areas.
