R E T T E L S N EW Improved ‘KAP’ of Stakeholders on Education Governance Issues Citizens’ Voice Project (CVP) - Narowal Sudhaar Society (Narowal) has implemented a project to strengthen the voice of citizens in order to improve the education governance in district Narowal by August 2013 (i.e. the strategic objective of project). The thematic area of this project is ‘education sector reforms’ and it was launched in August 2012 with the support of The Asia Foundation and financial support of USAID. It is implementing in two selected union councils, i.e. Bathanwala
(Tehsil Narowal) and Jandiala (Tehsil Zafarwal). Further, 50 schools (36 Govt. & 14 Private) have been selected in both union councils for this purpose. Besides,
multiple district level activities are also conducting throughout the project which is contributing to achieve the overall objective.
February 15, 2013
Inside this issue: Reactivation of 2 School Councils . District Advocacy Events.
2
Mobilization & Orientation of NGOs / CBOs.
2
Celebration of International Days.
3
Enrollment Cam- 3 paigns. Media Coverage. 3 Story of Interest.
4
‘KAP’ stands for Knowledge, Aptitude & Practice. Beneficiaries’ Statistics: More than 1250 in Community Meetings. More than 400 in SC Meetings.
1- Mobilization of Local Community Stakeholders As the project’s ‘icebreaker’ and to invite as well as involve the local community stakeholders, 25 broad based community meetings have been conducted with local community stakeholders at 25 localities in both union councils. There
Volume 1, Issue 1
were more than 1250 participants (both males and females) to share their views and experiences.
More than 1150 in Advocacy Events at Tehsil & District Levels. More than 2500 in enrollment walks. Thus, more than 5300 individuals have been mobilized and sensitized to date.
2- Reactivation of School Councils (SCs) To restore the involvement of school councils in schools’ development, 36 meetings for reactivation were conducted in the selected govt. schools. Besides, to involve the citizens’ voice in private schools, new school councils were structured comprising parents, local influential persons and principal; and later on, they were orientated about their roles and responsibilities.
“This is an admired initiative by Sudhaar”, the citizens remarked.
3- District Advocacy Events Two advocacy events (out of four) were organized at district level in which prominent stakeholders as education department officials; journalists; politicians; representatives from NGOs, school councils and private school associations; social activists; women and youth participated actively. There were more than 350 participants in these two advocacy events at district level.
“I have attended two such events throughout of my life in which individuals from different segments of life were at one place, one in New York and other is in Narowal organized by Sudhaar. Ajmal Khan (Professor: Govt. Elementary College, Narowal)
4- Mobilization & Orientation of NGOs / CBOs For effective involvement of local community CBOs/ NGOs and groups were involved through mobilization and orientation sessions to work in collaboration for the education sector reform. The four sessions, out of eight, have been conducted at Tehsil and district level on quarterly basis with maximum participation for strengthening of citizens’ voice and public accountability. In these sessions, multiple issues regarding schools and education reforms have been raised so that the voice of civil society activists can be strengthened in order to affect upon the education department’s policy and mechanism. Page 2
Improved ‘KAP’ of Stakeholders on Education Governance Issues
5- Celebrations of International Days For more effective citizens’ participation, four wide-spread awareness celebrations (two about Global Hand Washing Day & two about the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) Day) have been organized at District and Tehsil levels. Maximum participation of children were ensured in these events and they were encouraged by presenting different gift packs as well as opportunity to present their skills at stage. The effectiveness of these events were further enhanced with the participation of different political as well as government departments’ representatives. Furthermore, extensive media coverage was also provided to these events which further enhanced the beneficiaries of project. The remaining celebrations during the project pe-
organized later.
6- Enrollment Campaign Under Citizens’ Voice Project, Sudhaar (Narowal) organized 25 enrollment walks in different localities of selected UCs advocating the rural community upon the value of children to be enrolled in schools. There were about hundred participants, i.e. students, teachers and general community, in each walk by raising different slogans educational importance for children as well as society. A number of children (out of school) were also identified during these walks.
“I want to go to school, but I have not uniform, books and shows. If someone give me, I will go to school”; A child said during enrollment walk.
Media Coverage
Volume 1, Issue 1
Page 3
Sudhaar Society Jassarr Bypass, Narowal. Phone: 054-2413692 E-mail: sudhaar.narowal@gmail.com @Facebook: Sudhaar Narowal
A Development Agenda for Change…
! We are on the Web k www.sudhaar.org.p
Story of Interest During the Enrollment Walk in Kheetay (UC Bathanwala), one drop-out child, who left the school due to his domestic economic dissatisfaction and became habitual of stealing goods, joined the walk and came to school along with the walk. In the children’s gathering in school, he was pointed out by other children that he is habitual of stealing different things in the village upon which he felt ashamed. Then, the same child (drop-out) was motivated by other children as well as headmaster. “I have no uniform, shoes and book to come school”, that child said and began to weep.
In addition, head teacher (Niamat Ali) assured him that he will not ask for uniform to him after rejoining the school. Upon this, that child showed
By visualizing this, the Sudhaar Society’s Social Mobilizer his will to come to school regularly. The other said to him that he will provide all his needs regarding children also motivated him, individually and school (e.g. uniform, shoes, books, bag, etc.) in case of his admission and regularity in school.
collectively and the head teacher as well as students were nominated for its follow-up.