Community Oriented Primary Education

1. PROJECT OVERVIEW

1. Project Statement

Rural Empowerment and Institutional Development (REPID) is a non-profit, non-political, and non-religious and non-government organization registered with the Government of Pakistan and has a valid Allowed to Work Status from Ministry of SAFRON to work in Pakistan. The organization is striving to provide a peaceful environment to all human beings where they can utilize their potentials for Sustainable development. It involves general public, organizations and individuals and operates under Pakistani law without discrimination on the basis of religion, race, color, nationality and ethnicity.

REPID joined hands with UNHCR in September 2016 to provide Community Oriented Primary Education to around 36,000 Afghan Refugee children through 105 schools in 36 ARVs across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In the wake of recent repatriation of Afghan refugees to their country of origin, a considerable decrease in students’ enrolment has been observed, where the figures of enrolled students have dropped down to around 28,000 at present from 36,000 at the start of September 2016. Similarly, 4 schools (1 at Timer Lower Dir and 3 at Baghicha Mardan) have been officially closed, decreasing the total number of operational schools to 101 at the end of 2016.

In 2017, REPID under the umbrella of UNHCR will continue to provide primary education (grade 1 to 6) to around 28,000 Afghan refugee children through 101 schools, along with provision of teachers incentives, teacher training, class room supplies, uniforms and text books. These schools are situated in 36 refugee villages across KP, however are divided into 4 main administrative units/sub-centers namely Abbottabad, Mardan, Peshawar and Timergara, for its proper management. The project will focus on improvement and retention of enrolment in schools (especially girls’ enrolment) through organizing community mobilization campaigns and continue linkages with other projects to develop and sustain favorable environment for students at schools. Similarly, efforts will be made to rationalize present number of teachers and gradually replace community funded teachers with regular teachers, in order to minimize the financial burden on community fund. In addition, establishment of Youth Resource Center at Kababyan 109 School is proposed to provide a space for youth centered activities including engaging youth through the use of IT, books reading, youth empowerment activities, sports and career counseling in order to enhance their productivity and employability. EMIS will be improved through students profiling to ensure proper and timely data management.

420AQ Primary education provided.

In 2017, REPID will provide free basic education through 101 schools at 36 refugee villages across KP province from grades I to VI. REPID will assist UNHCR in procuring and distribution of items received during the implementation period. All other stakeholders will also be supported in assessment of needs for any possible support at these schools for the common cause. REPID will ensure that every school receives class room supplies, along with provision of school uniforms and text books. REPID will also provide training to the teachers and provide refresher sessions to the existing ones, as part of it’s continuous on-job capacity building of teachers.

420AP Measures to promote girls education promoted.

Female teachers have been provided enhanced incentives since 2012 vis-à-vis their male counterparts to encourage qualified teachers to join these schools. These efforts during 2014 & 15 improved female teachers from 24% to 31% by end of 2015 which further improved teacher’s student ratio. However, the recent repatriation has negatively affected the female teachers’ percentage- dropping down to 26% at the end of 2016. Efforts will be made in this connection to improve percentage of female teachers through renationalizing teaching staff and replacement of community funded teachers with regular teachers, where priority will be given to female teaching staff. Girls’ schools will be prioritized with the view to increase girls’ enrolment through engagement of refugee community and SMCs. Support in the form of uniforms, school supplies, stationeries, will be directed with the support of UNHCR and other donors specifically to girl’s schools to increase and retain further enrollments.

510AC Community awareness and sensitization campaigns implemented.

After repatriation, most of the School Management Committees (SMCs) needed to be revamped and reactivated. REPID through its mobilizations staff initiated reactivation of SMCs and has so far reached 50% of SMCs through reactivation efforts. In 2017, REPID will continue to revamp/reactivate remaining SMCs followed by their orientation and capacity building trainings. Community level mobilization and sensitization campaigns will be implemented engaging SMCs, Shura, Grand Shura and Youth, livelihood with the view to improve and retain enrolment in schools and address cultural barriers confronting girls’ education especially in high grades classes (grade 4, 5 and 6). Similarly, sports and educational competitions and awareness activities around importance of girls’ education will take place on regular basis in schools at RVs, inviting participation from parents, SMCs, camp shura, youth and general community.

We also propose establishment of a Youth Resource Center in 109 schools at RV Kababyan. This resource center will serve as a space for engaging Afghan youth in productive activities through the use of IT, book reading, youth empowerment activities, sports and career counseling with the aim to support them with their career path and employment. These youth will be encouraged to establish youth network across RVs and support the education program through awareness raising campaigns and seminars. In addition, Services of qualified psychologist will be engaged to provide support to both students and teachers on their psycho social needs. 

Demographic Data

Afghan refugee children between age groups of 5 to 15 at 101 REPID schools. The number of beneficiary students of the project in primary education are around 28,126 out of which 18,670 (66%) are boys while 9,456 (34%) are girls students.

2.2.1 Demographic Data by Population Planning Group

1.1 Sub office Students enrolment and teachers deputed