FDE rolls out three-tiered plan

ISLAMABAD: The education authorities in the federal capital on Monday unveiled a three-tier plan to enrol all out-of-school children in the city by May.

“We will give all newly-enrolled out-of-school children uniforms, stationery, books, schools bags as gifts,” stated Federal Education Ministry Joint Advisor Professor Rafiq Tahir during a news conference on Monday. Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) Acting Director General Saeed Amir Javed was also present.

The three-tiered plan started on March 27 and will continue until April 5. In this phase, some 3,997 children including 2,342 boys and 1,655 girls — between the ages of five and seven years identified will be enrolled. So far, they have enrolled 1,398 children.

In the second phase, 4,374 children between eight and 12-years-of-age will be enrolled from April 6 to April 20. These include 2,772 boys and 1,602 girls. Among these, some will be enrolled in government schools while some will be enrolled in non-formal schools. In the third  phase which lasts from April 20 to May 1, some 2,610 children between 13 to 16-years-of-age will be enrolled, including 21,875 boys and 735 girls.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 2^nd, 2019.