City Report and Action Plan

Faisalabad

Mr. Asghar Pervaiz Cheema
District Education Officer,
Faisalabad District Government
Pakistan

CITY REPORT

Education System

Faisalabad is famous for its educational institutions, comprising three universities, thirty one colleges, 2,836 schools in the government sector. Whereas, there is one university, 21 colleges and 2,019 schools operating in the private sector. The most important one is the University of Agriculture which is one of the biggest agriculture universities in South Asia.

In the Formal Education-School System there are four different levels:

• Primary School Level
• Elementary School Level
• High School Level
• Higher Secondary School Level

Compulsory Education in Pakistan is only up to primary level. Financial resources for education come from three different sources including the Provincial Government, District Government, and from funds/ fees in respect of schools established or maintained by the District Government.

The aim of Primary Education, (target age and goal), is 5-9 years old children and the aim is to increase the literacy rate.

The National Standard of School Facilities follows:

• Number of teachers: one teacher per 40 students
• Size of class room: 16x24 sq.ft.
• Size of play ground: 140x235 sq.ft.
• Library: exists but no criteria
• Health care room: Nil
• Faculty room: Nil
• Toilets: one block (Three Toilets)
• Others: sports kits, health care kits, science kits

The school year and term starts from 1 April and ends on 31 March. The curriculum offered in primary school includes:

• Languages
• Mathematics
• Science
• Palistani Social Studies
• Health and Physical Education
• Islamic Studies/ Ethics
• Arts
• Manual Work

Texts are assigned according to the needs of the Age Groups and the curriculum of the class.

Current States and Challenges

As for problems in Pakistan, the biggest one is politics. Political constraints are difficult to overcome. There is no shortage of schools but because of the continually changing political climate, there are no long or short term policies.

In Pakistan, literacy rate is only 68 percent. The main challenge is to reduce illiteracy and the lesson learnt is that education policies should be made on a long term and firm basis. It should be nation oriented, not government oriented and without political prejudices.

Enrollment rate in primary education is about 59 percent (male 61 percent, female 57 percent).

ACTION PLAN

Goals

To acquire 100 percent literacy rate by the use of maximum integrated and effective resources.

Objective

1. Increase enrollment to 100 percent.
2. To ensure the poor get all the necessary aids provided by the government.
3. To ensure effective and conducive school environment.

Special Objectives

1. Improve enrollment.
2. Improve school infrastructure.
3. Improve teaching technique.
   Training (in-house training).

General Strategies

Mobilize resources like; Dy DEO, AEO, U.C. Nazim, Councilors, notable personalities, head masters, students, and NGOs etc.

Proposed Measures

Include meetings with E.D.O. Literacy, Dy DEO, AEO, H.M., U.C. Nazim, and NGO representatives to constitute a committee, who will facilitate and monitor all the activities, and its meeting will be held every month.

Activities under Committee Facilitation and Monitoring

1. Collection of data of unenrolled children by census through teachers and councilors.
2. Collection of data of drop-out children from school.
3. Collection of data of very poor children by U.C. Councilors.
4. Collection of data of missing facilities in school infrastructure.
5. Collection of data in education area where betterment is required.

Proposed Agents:

1. For 100 percent enrollment: U.C. Nazim, councillors, notable personalities, NGO, H.M. and teachers are engaged under the facilitation of committee.
2. For improvement of infrastructure: Committee meet with Mayor/ City Nazim with data of missing facilities
3. For betterment of education: Relative qualified teachers to be deputed for training other teachers

Proposed Time Frame

• For 100 percent enrollment: Dec 2005 - Nov 2006
• For improvement of infrastructure: Dec 2005 - June 2006
       or may be in the next financial year, July 2006 - June 2007
• For betterment of Education: March 2006 - Aug 2006

Monitoring and Evaluation

Meeting of Committee will be held in first week of every month and report from different sides are analyzed and steps are taken where necessary.

Additional Considerations or Elements

1. Political commitment from us.
2. Visionary input from us.
3. Courage from us to bring out changes
4. Our willingness to apply something new.
5. Our action should be also sustainable