Expo held to promote girls’ education

An expo was held recently to promote girls’ education in three districts of Indus Kohistan in Khyber-Pakhtunkwa.

The Friends Welfare Association (FWA) Pakistan, in collaboration with UNESCO, is executing an intervention “Girls’ Lower Secondary Education Programme (GLSEP) in three districts of Indus Kohistan to support the transition of girls from primary to lower secondary level. As part of the enrolment campaign, an educational expo was held in Sair Ghaziabad in district Kolai Palas to raise awareness to increase the enrolment of girls, said a press release issued here on Tuesday.

Highlighting the issues of girl’s education in the province, the facilitator showed that over one million girls could not continue education after completion of primary and middle schooling. UNESCO Pakistan, in collaboration with the Norwegian embassy, is taking the lead to educate girls at lower secondary level in remote areas of K-P including in Kohistan.

UNESCO National Programme Officer Sadia Bungash appreciated the efforts of the project team and district education departments of Kohistan for organising the event exceptionally. She assured the continuation of the cooperation of UNESCO and the Norwegian embassy over their role in the promotion of girls’ secondary education for the people of Indus Kohistan.

She said that “it is a matter of immense pleasure for me to see the future of Kohistan with such a confident performance of girls over here. These girls set the stage and will be a source of inspiration for others in their family and community-with their audacity.” She stressed the need for identification of the skills that female students of Kohistan need to learn that would be supported by UNESCO.

District Education officer-Zubaida Khattak, while addressing the audience, highlighted the issues of the region regarding girls’ education and appreciated UNESCO and the Norwegian embassy for their support.

The event was participated in by representatives of UNESCO, the district education department, the provincial education department, social activists, and community members.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2021