Punjab, Pakistan: Afternoon programs bring thousands of children to school

<p>With GPE support, the government of Punjab has opened more than 1,500 afternoon programs in primary school buildings, allowing thousands of children to continue their education and get closer to their dreams. The initiative is part of the TALEEM program, financed by a $50.6 million grant from GPE.</p>

Punjab, Pakistan: Afternoon programs bring thousands of children to school

Mehreen Hashim, 12, attends the afternoon school program for girls at the Government Girl Primary School Nishtar Colony, Lahore, Pakistan.
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Story highlights

  • With close to 12 million children out of school in Punjab, the government faces a huge challenge in giving all children an education, especially beyond primary school.
  • Afternoon school programs, part of TALEEM, are one way of bringing children to school.
  • TALEEM is funded by a $50.6 million GPE grant. To date, 1,500 afternoon schools have been set up, allowing more than 92,000 students to learn.
Map of Punjab, Pakistan

At age 10, Dania Nisar’s prospects for continuing her education were grim: she had finished grade 5 but her school, the Government Girls Primary School (GGPS) Nishtar Colony in Lahore, didn’t offer middle grades.

Since there was no public middle school near her home and her parents couldn’t afford the fees for a private school, Dania had to resign herself to staying home. She helped her dad with his catering business, cooking and baking, and her mom with her activities. But she still hoped to be able to realize her dream of becoming an army doctor.

“I watched a drama serial on TV and some of the women in the drama became army doctors. That’s what I want to do too,” says Dania.

  • Dania with her mom Sobia.
    Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

  • Dania at home with her family. Left to right: Dania’s older sister Amna, Dania, her father Muhammad and her mother Sobia.
    Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

Fast forward one year: Zara Batool, headteacher at Dania's primary school, paid a visit to Dania’s family and informed them that a new afternoon program was starting at the school and that they should enroll Dania.

The program is meant specifically for girls, which is important as many families in Pakistan prefer boys and girls to be educated separately starting in middle school.

Zara Batool, headteacher, GGPS Nishtar Colony
“Initially when we started the afternoon school program, we involved the community. We launched an enrollment campaign.”
Zara Batool
Headteacher, GGPS Nishtar Colony
  • Dania learns to measure with her math teacher Sehar Ali. Government Girls Primary School Nishtar Colony, Lahore.
    Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

Dania was enrolled and very happy to resume her studies in grade 6.

A typical day for her goes like this: in the morning she gets up and helps her family at home, preparing food. She also does her homework. In the afternoon, she’s in school from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. In grade 6, she really enjoyed learning about computers; now in grade 8, her favorite subject is science.

A massive challenge: out-of-school children

Dania is one example among many children in Punjab who either don’t have access to education beyond primary or simply don’t have access to school at all: close to 12 million children are out of school in Punjab, out of an estimated 26 million out-of-school children overall in the country.

The challenge is immense, but the government is determined to gradually include all these children in the education system, in formal or non-formal settings, and give them the skills they need to build a better future for themselves and their families.

GPE is supporting the government of Punjab through the TALEEM program, funded by a US$50.6 million grant, implemented in collaboration with several education departments and support from UNICEF.

TALEEM stands for “Transformation in Access, Learning, Equity and Education Management” and means “education” in Urdu.

TALEEM stands for “Transformation in Access, Learning, Equity and Education Management” and means “education” in Urdu.

Community mobilization to bring children to school

One of the first challenges is identifying the children who are not attending school and, in many cases, persuading parents to let girls continue their education.

TALEEM funded awareness campaigns and hired local mobilizers who walk around neighborhoods, call parents and inform families about available education options, including afternoon school programs like the one Dania attends, and non-formal centers.

The campaigns started in March 2023 with a special enrollment effort in August, before the start of the regular school year 2023–2024.

Farooq Rashid, program director at the PMIU managing TALEEM, presents the enrollment campaign results. Credit: TALEEM
Farooq Rashid, program director at the PMIU managing TALEEM, presents the enrollment campaign results.
Credit:
TALEEM

The campaigns include community events with art competitions and cultural gatherings, messages on social media and ads in newspapers, and enlist the help of school councils.

The councils, composed of prominent community members, teachers and parents, support school management, including budget decisions, hiring of teachers and mobilizing enrollment.

Zara Batool, headteacher at the GGPS Nishtar Colony
“We built confidence in the community and enrollments increased.”
Zara Batool
Headteacher at the GGPS Nishtar Colony
Mehreem Hashim, 12, is in grade 6. Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

Mehreem Hashim, 12, is in grade 6. She attends the afternoon school program at GGPS Nishtar Colony. Her favorite subject is Urdu. She wants to become a businesswoman and set up a school system for people who can’t afford school.

Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich
Shaheen Hashim, Mehreem’s mom, used to go for walks near the school. Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

Shaheen Hashim, Mehreem’s mom, used to go for walks near the school. One day she noticed people gathered outside and approached the headteacher. That’s when she learned about the afternoon school program and enrolled Mehreem, who had been out of school for one year.

Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich
Zara Batool has been headteacher of the Government Girls Primary School Nishtar Colony for 3 years. Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

Zara Batool has been headteacher of the Government Girls Primary School Nishtar Colony for 3 years. In the morning, about 800 boys and girls attend primary grades (kindergarten through grade 5) and Zara teaches grade 5 science. From 1:45 to 5 p.m., about 200 girls attend grades 6 to 8, and Zara teaches English. She says, “I love my job. I always face different challenges. I cannot hesitate. I interact with parents monthly through a WhatsApp group.”

Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich
Usman Sarfraz, 14, is in grade 8 in the afternoon program at the Government Primary School Gulwehra in Lahore. Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich

Usman Sarfraz, 14, is in grade 8 in the afternoon program at the Government Primary School Gulwehra in Lahore. His favorite subject is mathematics. The school headteacher contacted Usman’s parents and informed them of the program. “It was a very pleasant surprise for me to be able to continue studying,” says Usman. In the mornings, he supports his family and takes care of their cattle.

Credit: GPE/Sebastian Rich
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Through TALEEM, 1,500 afternoon schools have been set up in 14 districts, allowing more than 92,000 students (62% of them girls)
to learn
.

The afternoon school program is conducted on the premises of primary schools where grades 1 to 5 are held in the mornings. Hence, it not only enables many children to continue education at the middle level, but also makes the best use of existing facilities.

According to estimates, it would take the government decades and a colossal amount of resources to build enough schools to cater to all out-of-school children.

As of January 2024, the afternoon school program has contributed to a 9.8% reduction in children identified as being out-of-school due to non-availability of middle schools.

March 2024.