Out-of-school kids: Over 10,000 children to be enrolled in capital

The three-year plan also envisages induction of 200 teachers.

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) has chalked out a three-year plan to enroll over 10,000 out-of-school children in the Islamabad Capital Territory during the next three years.

The plan was finalised by a two-member committee which will be presented to the Minister of State Barrister Usman Ibrahim for final approval, an officila at the division told The Express Tribune.

The division deals with policy matters while the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) is responsible for its implementation in its 424 institutes including 293 schools.

The Rs59.7-million plan envisages induction of 200 teachers, besides collection of data on out-of-school children and coordination with implementation bodies.

The federal education ministry with the help of provincial governments was working on the “National Plan of Action” to enroll out-of-school children.

Around 136,000 children aged between five to 16 years were out-of-school in the federal capital, while the figure for children aged five to nine is 36,000.

The division was planning to conduct a survey, raise awareness campaigns and set up an advisory council for feed backs from the public.

As per the plan, the GIS survey will cost Rs6.7 million, data collection Rs15 million, awareness drives Rs560,000, streamlining of important units Rs10.8 million, provision of books, bags and other related materials Rs10 million, salaries of 200 teachers Rs24 million and the advisory council expenses will cost Rs0.6 million.

Last year, CADD enrolled around 15,000 out-of-school children in rural and urban areas of the capital.

CADD spokesperson Rafiqe Tahir said that they were hopeful of implementing the plan smoothly as they have received sufficient amount in the current fiscal year.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2014.