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15 schools built in flood-hit Muzaffargarh

Children make their way to a school built by IR

Islamabad, April 24, 2012: “Under its Rehabilitating Infrastructure for Supporting Education (RISE) Project, Islamic Relief Pakistan has constructed 15 worst flood-hit schools in district Muzaffargarh” said Country Director Dr. Fayaz Ahmad here on Tuesday.
 
He said that it is vital to invest in the education system of the country to work in order to towards Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is furthermore vital all children get free education, especially the victims of disasters who need particular care.

So far, Islamic Relief has constructed 15 schools for boys and girls in flood-hit district Muzaffargarh and worked on revitalization of walls, installed water pumps, hand pumps, filtration plants, constructed solid waste collection, arranged teachers training, renovated playgrounds, conducted training of school councils, distributed school items, stationery, school bags, and playing kits. “In collaboration with the government and school committees, we have ensured that children are engaged in both the curricular and extracurricular activities” Dr Fayaz Ahmad added.

Head of Humanitarian Programme, Umair Hasan, said it is estimated that around 20 million children in Pakistan are not in schools and the education system is below standard, particularly in areas affected by the disaster. We need to ensure free and quality education for all children; the most vulnerable and disadvantaged especially need to be prioritized because the social and economic development of Pakistan depends on the success of its education. Islamic Relief is investing in children and their education through its emergency and long-term development programmes to in order achieve positive socio-economic impacts.

It is also necessary to curb the dropout ratio and Islamic Relief is encouraging parents and communities to ensure that all local children are enrolled in the school. A special focus is being placed on enrolling girls, highlighted Dr Ahmad.
 
“The right of children to receive an education is enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Pakistan is a signatory to it. It is therefore vital that all children in Pakistan, both boys and girls, have equal opportunity to attend school in which to continue their education or in some cases commence their education”.