The Constitution of Pakistan has proclaimed eradication of illiteracy as one of the Principles of Policy for the State. At the time of its approval in 1973, the Constitutions envisaged to eradicate illiteracy within shortest period of time possible. The exact wording of this provision is reproduced below:

“The State shall: remove illiteracy and provide free and compulsory secondary education within minimum possible period” (Article 37-b)

Unfortunately, the goals envisaged in the above provision have not been achieved so far. This delay can be attributed to many factors, but predominantly it relates to the low priority accorded to education by the decision makers at the higher levels. Historically, Pakistan has not been spending enough time or resources on basic education. Budget for the education sector has remained low in all fiscal years. Similarly in Sungi’s working areas, an average 40 % of total households spare very little amount from their house hold budget for their children’s education. Discrimination on basis of sex and rural urban divide is wide and increasing with each passing day, in almost all Sungi working areas particularly in Swabi and Batagram districts. To eradicate illiteracy efficiently along with a long term approach, provision of free and compulsory primary education for all has to be ensured. Today, if about 36% of the adult population in Sungi working areas cannot read and write, it is mainly due to the inability of the formal education system to meet learning needs of all the new born children and lack of interest in community partners to take effective measures.

Through its education program, Sungi is focusing on increasing literacy rate and providing quality education .The program is endeavoring to achieve at least 15% girl’s enrolment in primary schools and trying to minimize drop out by at least 10% in selected areas “No girl out of school” campaign is being carried out to increase girls’ literacy. Sungi is running an education program in the social sector for development and to increase access of the marginalized groups to quality education services through intensive awareness campaigns, community mobilization and advocacy campaigns. Education is part of Sungi strategic plan II (June 2006 -June 2009) and Sungi strategic plan III ((June 2009-June 2012). Alongside continuous advocacy and social mobilization, programs for the promotion of girls education through different education projects have been running alongside to achieve desired results. Figures quoted above have been taken from Sungi Base line Survey Repot 2009

Tawana project-school nutrition program

Tawana Pakistan Project, (Sept. 2002 to June 2005) was funded by the Government of Pakistan to address poor nutritional status and school enrolment of primary school age girls. The core strategy was to create a safe environment and empowering village women to take collective decisions. Through reflective learning process women learnt to plan balanced menus, purchase food, prepare and serve a noon meal at school from locally available foods at nominal costs. Agha Khan University partnered with the government for designing, managing, monitoring and evaluation of the project. Sungi Facilitated its implementation in Allai Batagram

EnhanceEducation Opportunities for Girls (2008-2009)

Project was financially supported by Oxfam Novib and implemented by a consortium of four organizations, namely; National Rural Support Programme, Sungi Development Foundation, Khwendo Kor and Saibaan Development Organization in Mansehra, Batagram and Muzaferabad districts. The Project was launched to “To improve physical facilities of 200 existing damaged primary girls’ schools in EQ area by providing an enabling environment with learning facilities in these school by year 2009 toenhance education opportunities for girls.

RISE (Revitalizing, Innovating, and Strengthening Education project (2006- 2010)

Sungi implemented RISE project after the earth Quake in district Mansehra with financial and technical inputs of American Institute for Research (AIR) in consortium with International Rescue Committee (IRC), The National Rural Support Program (NRSP), Sarhad support Program (NRSP), grounded in the belief that comprehensive, integrated support for communities, teachers, and educational officials can substantially improve the quality of classroom instruction and student learning. Sungi with technical inputs from AIR helped build a better and enhanced education system in district Mansehra while improving conditions of the 400 damaged public schools through increasing community participation in management of the schools.

RCC-ECD (Releasing confidence & creativity in early childhood development (July 2010-to date)

Sungi Development Foundation included ECD as an area to be focused in its current strategic plan (2009-14) along with advocacy on educational issues. With due endorsement from provincial governments and prompt cooperation of district governments, Sungi Development Foundation initiated a project name “Releasing Confidence and Creativity – an Early Childhood Development (RCC-ECD)” in 60 government primary schools. Project is encompassed by financial and technical support of Aga Khan Foundation Pakistan and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherland contributing to the overall goal of RCC program for Early Childhood Development in Pakistan. Project is spotlighting holistic development of child and lifelong wellbeing particularly the girl child comprising of cognitive, physical, social, emotional and mental development with the objectives listed below.

• To expand the access and improving the quality of teaching/learning in Kachi classes and classes 1 & 2 with an emphasis on reaching girls and poor communities
• To develop a range of approaches which assist families and communities to increase their knowledge, skills and confidence in their abilities to support their children‘s development
• To build the capacity and commitment of key stakeholders at different levels particularly within the education system
• To influence the ECD policy and practice, and strengthen ECD learning networks

Adult Literacy Project (April 2011-todate)

Sungi and NCHD in joint collaboration are running the Adult Literacy program in district Abbottabad and Muzaffarabad to meet with EFA and Millennium Development Goals. The main features of the literacy program are to focus on girls and particularly mothers so that they may become able not only to be literate themselves but also execute their specific responsibilities/role in their children’s nurturing and future generation’s promotion towards an educated, healthy, civilized, well discipline and useful citizen of the nation. Therefore, both organizations have an integrated and holistic approach in its literacy package that covers the entire aspects of an ideal family life and also addresses the social, religious, humanitarian, economic and present-day obligations of the society. Consequently, by targeting mothers under the literacy program Sungi is contributing in promoting a dynamic and vibrant society that puts great efforts for the process of human development.

SUNGI development Foundation is committed to achieving excellence by continuous improvement of its programmes, services and processes. Offering a support to education by involving the communities which is perhaps the most important factor in creating a successful future for generations that will have to cope with a rapidly changing environment Sungi focuses on a comprehensive education Programme in non-formal primary, adult education, gaps in education and advocacy campaign. Opportunities are explored with the government run schools to strengthen their capacity, outreach and increase their enrolment rate. Community centers are set up to deal with health issues, skills and enterprise development. Sungi is assisting The Citizen Foundation in the construction of schools in the Earthquake affected areas.

Walk on Education in Battagram

Education is an oxygen for the survival of human being. This reality has been approved by the intellectuals of the world. Regarding this statement and according the vision of sungi development foundation. Sungi Battagram zone arranged a walk on importance of education in this earth quake hit area Battagram.

The slogan of this walk was “Education is a basic right of children “Almost 150 people were participated in this walk. There were so many school going children, young people, social workers and prestigious personalities of Battagram participated in this walk.
Earlier there were several hurdles to arrange this walk. Local political leaders interrupted to flop this walk. They used their influence on leading staff of local government high school, to restrict the students to participate in this walk. In-spite of all difficulties no unturned stone to arrange this walk. Regarding this walk, invitations were given to the all activists of surroundings villages of the Battagram.

Participants were holding different education demanding placards in their hands. Walk started from DHQ Hospital to sungi Battagram office .At the end student’s participants addressed to the huge gathering. Having described the education problems, students spokesman said, there are no buildings for the schools, in tent schools we have to face many problems due to hot weather. There is no proper sitting arrangement for the students. Old buildings have destroyed bitterly. Those school buildings, which are saved for earthquake, unfortunately the attendance of teachers is equal to none.
Speakers were demanding for new school buildings and established monitoring system for teachers. At the end of walk the resolution passed by the participants to make efforts for the betterment of education system of Battagram.

Seminar on The Importance of Girls Education

After Earthquake on October 08, 2005, the educational system in Battagram and other affected districts got severely affected. Being a right-based NGO, Sungi Development Foundation planned to re-track the educational system by facilitating education department. In this regards, a seminar on importance of girls education was conducted on June 20, 2006 in which education department, local govt. representatives, teachers, women councilors and social activists participated and highlighted the importance to girls education and its current alarming situation.

Mr. Mukhtar Javed (Manger HDR) briefed the participants about Sungi, its mission, vision, background and different programs for development and sustainability. He highlighted the success of Sungi Development Foundation in bringing a historical change in political system of Battagram by mobilizing women to participate in election and its subsequent outcome in the shape of 38 women councilors. He highlighted the importance of women in political and decision making process and Sungi Development Foundation future plan to ensure the rights of elected women in local government system of the district. He briefed the participants about women rights in the light of Islam and also the importance of education in Islam.

Importance of Women Education
Madam Zeenat Siraj (Manager Education Program) briefed the participants about the significance of education for the development of a society especially women education. She highlighted that how an educated woman can mould the future of kids. She also highlighted the role and contribution of educated women in governing the house and in assisting their males. She said that teachers play a backbone role in the developmental process and sensitized the teachers upon their importance and duty for a better education.

Situation of Education in Battagram
Mr. Hameed khan Tehsil Naib Nazim participated in this seminar as a representative of tehsil government. He appreciated Sungis’ efforts in humanitarian response and also its contribution for improving the education quality through Tawana Pakistan Project. He stressed that quality education is the right of every child and both girls and boys have equal rights to be provided with quality education. Women constitute 52% of population but their literacy rate is only 8% in Battagram. It is an alarming situation and we should focus on female education as well because today’s girl is future mother and an educated mother can better mould the future of her children. He stressed that all should move towards the solution of this problem through coordinated efforts and female councilors should take lead role in ensuring the quality education in girl’s schools.

Importance of Education in Islam
Mr. Maqbool participated in this seminar as representative from Khwendo Kor. He highlighted the importance of education in the light of Islamic teachings and quoted various examples from different decades of Islam. He also highlighted the constitutional steps taken by UN in its charter and constitution of Pakistan. He stressed that women councilors should discuss women education as their agenda in district assembly and should work for it on priority basis. He discussed the role of Khwendo Kor in highlighting teacher’s issues and also celebrate teachers global week.

Female Education Status in Current Scenario
Madam Naseem Bhatti (Deputy DEO Female education) discussed the education status in girl’s primary schools in post earthquake scenario. She said that their department has started schooling in tents and still there are many schools where there are no tents for schools and the teachers are performing their duties in open spaces. She highlighted teacher’s issues and basic needs they deserve for at every school. She admired the role of Sungi Development Foundation in girl’s education through Tawana Pakistan Project and its fruitful results in increasing enrollment in girl’s primary schools. By this project interest raise among masses regarding girls education and now teachers should play their role in keeping their interest alive by providing quality education. She explained that in past there were majority of non-local teachers but now there are only 50 non-local and 400 local female teachers.

Sungi Future Plan in Education Sector
Madam Zeenat Siraj explained Sungi’s future direction in education sector. She briefed that in future Sungi Development Foundation will enhance the capacity of teachers to ensure the quality education. For this purpose, they will arrange training workshops for teachers at union council level through close coordination with education department.

Inauguration of the Community Centre for Women and Children in Charakpura Muzzafarabad on May 23, 2006 Sungi again supports the vulnerable group

A community center with a comprehensive set of programs will most benefit the inhabitants of the rural areas. For instance, a mother’s awareness of hygiene and health issues, nutrition and responsible child rearing will lead to a healthier family and therefore circumvent the need to make frequent and costly visits to a doctor. A healthy and happy child will be more motivated and equipped to handle the challenges of school and studies than a sickly child. But, a motivated child needs to be stimulated and challenged in school or else she’ll lose her motivation. This leads to the issue of teacher training, good teaching resource materials, and an inspiring learning environment, all of which can be addressed through workshops for private and public school teachers and principals at the community center. In addition, there is the unfortunate reality of government ghost schools which means that quite a few families choose to send their children to private schools. However, this choice comes at a cost which, in turn, leads to the issue of income generation.

Are families able to generate enough income to give their children the education and life opportunities that they would like to? Do fathers and mothers, in their separate capacities; possess the skills that would enable them to lead more economically fulfilling lives? If so, they would have in the palm of their hands the ingredients for a happier and more content family life. If not, the constant stress of an uncertain future will wear them down to the point where they will have no choice but to clutch at desperate measures such as pulling their children out of school and sending them to work prematurely, thereby adding to a child labor problem that is already widespread.

The needs of these rural communities existed well before the earthquake but, in the aftermath of the earthquake and the devastation that it has wrought, they have become absolutely urgent. The community center will address the global needs of these rural communities, from teaching income generation skills to raising awareness on disparate topics (health, environment conservation, rights of women and children, for example) and, above all, will inculcate the concept of community itself as an enabling and empowering tool for change.
Hidden talents would be addressed for example children of these areas play the flute, so such talents should not go waste, enhancing such skills preserves the culture of the area. Similar activities would be encouraged to revive the traditional values.