Education is the cornerstone of a nation's development, yet Pakistan's education system faces numerous challenges that hinder its progress. The obstacles are significant, from the lack of resources and qualified teachers to outdated curricula. Pakistan's education crisis is marked by high dropout rates and 26.2 million out-of-school children, which demand urgent solutions.
'The PM while hosting a conference in Islamabad declared a nationwide education emergency'. We see this headline plastered everywhere, these days. There is a strong discourse on the topic and the public has raised questions on the purpose, implications and outcomes of this emergency.
We're excited to share how collaboration is driving impactful change in education advocacy, particularly in gender-responsive budgeting, in Pakistan. At Education Out Loud, we believe in the power of partnerships to amplify our collective impact to support the development and awareness on girls' inclusion. The approach highlights how collaborative efforts are reshaping education reforms today.
As the elections are approaching, it's imperative that the agenda of education takes center stage in political discourse. Carrying this forward, Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) an initiative of the Society for Access to Quality Education (SAQE) organized its 14th annual convention at the Roomy's Signature Hotel on the theme 'Build Back Better: Transforming Politics, Policy, and Practice'. The event featured two sessions, the first comprised of a dialogue with youth while the second session included a policy discussion with experts.
The Roundtable Discussion on Education Reforms and Inclusion in Pakistan convened on October 4th, 2023, was a significant event that brought together political leaders, policymakers, educators, activists, and experts. The event, a collaborative effort of the Society for Access to Quality Education (SAQE), Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), and Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS), aimed to shed light on the critical issues concerning education in Pakistan ahead of the 2024 general elections.