ILMPOSSIBLE: TAKE A CHILD TO SCHOOL (TACS) PROGRAMME:

Donor: British Council, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND:

DOST is a member  of the British Council partnership with Children’s Global Network (CGN), School of Leadership Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and 30 local partners proposed to implement “ILMPOSSIBLE: Take a Child to School” in 60 districts of four provinces of Pakistan. The aim of the proposed project is to enroll out of the school boys and girls in primary schools in Pakistan and ensure that 80 percent of the newly enrolled stay in school during the course of the project. DDR activities will be extended to the schools in the project through the project.

British Council, Pakistan with the support of DOST and other partners aimed to raise national level awareness program on Article 25 (A) of the Constitution of Pakistan, addressing the State responsibility to provide free education to all children aged 5 to 16 years.  The project focuses on the issue of implementation of the article in letter and spirit by involving families of the out of school and school going children and communities to support the program.

Overall Project Expected Beneficiaries:

The project will reach OOSC between the ages of 5-9 years for enrollment in primary school over the course of three years. The total number will consist of 40% girls and 60% boys. Historically, girls’ enrollment has always been more problematic given the particular cultural and societal norms in countries such as Pakistan. This recommended ratio has been decided upon based on practical considerations where we realize that it will be easier to convince parents to enroll more boys than girls. That said, the project will make every coordinated effort to ensure that an equitable ratio is enrolled.

The project objectives and purpose will be achieved through a combined effort of the British Council, its three strategic partners—CGN, SoL and FAFEN—and delivery partners, including Dost Welfare Foundation, Peshawar in year 1 of phase 2.