ISLAMABAD: Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (MoFEPT), Waseem Ajmal Chaudhry, led the first inter-provincial secretaries’ meeting on Foundational Learning Policy and Roadmap, signaling a groundbreaking initiative. The meeting brought together senior officials from Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Sindh, highlighting the joint commitment to improving learning outcomes for pre-primary and primary schoolchildren.
During the meeting, Chaudhry reviewed the progress made since the Pakistan Learning Conference held in June 2023. He highlighted the establishment of the Foundational Learning Hub, which received support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office and the World Bank. As part of the initiative, a reading hour was introduced in selected institutions under the Federal Directorate of Education, reaching beyond formal education institutes to include non-formal education institutes, private schools, and Madaris.
Secretary Masood Khan from the Elementary & Secondary Education Department (ESED) of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa expressed gratitude for the platform and stressed the need for strategic interventions. Special Secretary Nauman Shah from the Education Department of Balochistan urged a focus on content length and teacher quality.
Dr. Fouzia Khan from the Education Department of Sindh highlighted the introduction of a dedicated ‘reading period’ and emphasized the importance of a conducive learning environment. The representative from The Programme Monitoring and Implementation Unit of Punjab underlined the significance of technology and digital literacy.
The consensus reached during the meeting included the incorporation of grade-appropriate numeracy skills and a mandatory emphasis on reading and comprehension for students up to grade 3. The Special Secretary of MoFEPT emphasized the crucial role of a conducive learning environment in improving students’ abilities. Secretary MoFEPT reiterated unwavering support to all provinces in developing a clear and actionable policy on foundational learning.
This comprehensive policy marks a significant milestone in elevating education standards, promising a brighter future for the nation’s youth.
Acknowledgement: The news was originally reported by The News on 31 Jan 2024
