Zubair Qureshi
An agreement has been signed to improve health and wellbeing of the school children in the federal capital and a Letter of Understanding (LoU) was signed in this regard by Directorate General of Basic Education Community Schools (BECS) and Project Planning & Development Unit (PPDU) under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training (M/oFE&PT) and the Muslim Hands Pakistan on Monday.
The agreement calls for establishing a framework for cooperation to improve the health and wellbeing of school children and staff by enhancing access to clean water, sanitation facilities, hygiene education, and basic education necessities.
Director General of BECS, Hameed Khan Niazi and Executive Director Muslim Hands Syed JavedGillani signed documents on behalf of their respective organizations.
As per the agreement, the parties would collaborate on initiatives and projects related to the School WASH Programme in Islamabad Capital Territory. This partnership will commence on March 20 (tomorrow) and will remain in force for the next one year unless terminated earlier by mutual agreement or due to specific circumstances as outlined herein.
The Directorate General of BECS and PPDU shall identify and provide a list of 25 schools in Islamabad in need of WASH interventions (out of school children). Further, they would be required to facilitate the coordination with school administrations for the smooth execution of WASH projects. BECS and PPDU would support monitoring and evaluation activities to assess the impact of the interventions, besides assisting in organizing hygiene education sessions by providing access to students and staff.
The Muslim Hands shall fund the WASH interventions in the identified 25 schools, including the procurement of materials and hiring of contractors as needed. Further, it would be required to design and implement the WASH projects in close coordination with BECS and PPDU and provide technical expertise and training for the maintenance and sustainability of WASH facilities.
The Muslim Hands would be required to conduct hygiene education sessions for students and staff in collaboration with BECS and PPDU and the capacity building of school staff and management.
Addressing the occasion, Director General of BECS, Hameed Khan Niazi, said that the BECS is a unique model of one teacher, one school, and integrated teaching. It costs the government Rs 18,000 per student in the formal education system compared to Rs 4,000 per student in the non-formal system run by BECS, said DG , adding that these community schools would come out as the best model by providing basic facilities.
He further said that there are around 12,000 children out of school in ICT, and BECS has the capacity to absorb around 7-8 thousand children.
He further said that the child’s right to education and water and sanitation are human rights that cannot be taken away or compromised. Lack of access to adequate WASH facilities can lower attendance and educational achievement in schools. Mr. Hameed Khan Niazi, DG BECS said that the government is committed to ensuring basic necessities to all, especially to the students and staff in non-formal education institutions.
