UNICEF delegation calls on education minister

ISLAMABAD - The Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday called on a delegation of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) led by its Executive Director Catherine Russell.

The duo discussed the initiatives taken during Covid-19 to ensure safe school reopening, continuity of learning and to mitigate the learning losses. The key challenges like suffering of learning levels, increasing of dropout rate, enrolment of out of school children focusing especially on girls also came under discussion. The both sides also exchanged views on stunted growth of the children and launching of school meal program that may help to improve children’s physical as well as mental health.

The ministry and UNICEF have good working relation in matters related to education sector. The ministry selected UNICEF for procuring and supplies of hygiene kits of cost of $ 9 million. UNICEF is also collaborating with the ministry for developing distance learning framework. UNICEF has also conducted a study on the impact of Covid-19 on education in Pakistan. The both sides have reiterated their resolve to further enhance the working collaboration between the two in the future.

 

The writer is member of staff and can be reached at @8mansoor_ali

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