The Federal government today revealed its ambitious objective of achieving ‘Zero OutofSchool Children’ with the upcoming Federal NonFormal Education Policy 2025.
It was announced at the launch of Pakistan’s NonFormal Education Report 202324. Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, unveiled the report at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), calling it a crucial tool for policy development and data collection in nonformal education.
Federal Secretary for Education, Nadeem Mehbub, also attended the event. The minister lauded the combined work of the JICAbacked AQAL Project and the Pakistan Institute for Education (PIE) in producing the study. Dr. Siddiqui stressed the importance of data, stating that enhancements in accessibility, standard, and administration in nonformal schooling depend on solid data frameworks. He highlighted the effective operation of the EMIS (Education Management Information System) cell focused on nonformal education.
Work is also proceeding on the National Action Plan for NonFormal Education 2025. Dr. Siddiqui also announced the impending introduction of a comprehensive administrative structure and standardized teacher evaluation method. Accelerated learning initiatives are also being implemented to reintegrate outofschool children into the education framework.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s focus on datadriven policymaking, aligned with contemporary educational requirements. He commended the “praiseworthy” contributions of PIE and JICA, noting that the report demonstrated strong interagency collaboration between federal and provincial bodies. Dr. Siddiqui encouraged all stakeholders to utilize the report”s data for better educational planning and community engagement.
The Minister emphasized education as the cornerstone of societal advancement, stating that national progress hinges on educational investments. He highlighted the focus on female literacy, emphasizing the economic empowerment of educated females and their crucial role in national growth.