Project ‘Equitable Access to Education for Adolescent Girls, launched by SPO and supported by US AID in Turbat, Balochistan
The program commenced with the recitation of Holy Quran, and Project Coordinator, Mehrab Baloch, formally welcomed the participants on behalf of SPO, at the launching ceremony of project, Equitable Access to Education for Adolescent Girls in Balochistan.
Mehrab Baloch, Project Coordinator, briefly introduced SPO goal, vision, mission and its role, and contribution for the development and welfare of community specifically in Turbat region. He said SPO strengthens and supports the community organizations and public interest institutions of Pakistan for the benefit of poor and disadvantaged sections of society for sustainable development through a participatory approach. He added SPO already successfully materialized and contributed in women educational sector through village education program in Balochistan.
He further introduced the project objectives with participants that Project Equitable Access to Education for Adolescent Girls, supported by US AID SMALL GRANT and run by SPO Turbat and will be implemented in different 5UCs of district Kech and Gwadar, Balochistan. The duration of project will be the 12 month, and its core objective is to provide education to adolescent girls in 05 UCs of Districts Turbat, Gwadar (Baluchistan), strengthening 30 government girls primary, middle and high schools through provision of necessary furniture items and teacher training; setting up 15 Alternate Learning Paths (ALPs) for enrolling 375 girls; and conducting an extensive campaign for enrolling 2000 girls in regular government schools. In addition, he also has thrown light on the project beneficiaries and its phases of implementation.
After a brief orientation of project, he invited EDO Turbat, Imdad Malik to share the stage. EDO Turbat. Imdad Malik appreciated SPO role and hoped that this project will achieve all the goals and objectives; he added that education is mandatory for all. It is never bound with age. He particularly mentioned that our key focus should be on girl’s educations as they are mostly ignored. Moreover, He assured all kind of participation by education sector to contribute in the success of this project.
At concluding session, chief guest of the program, DC Turbat Yaqoob Marri Khan called on stage to share his valued views about the session, DC Turbat praises the objective of project and said without education it is hard to think of success. He said education is ultimate weapon for prosperity and it should be accessible to all; he further added that in western countries, the equitable access to education specially for adolescent girls was very much emphasized and this project will fulfill this need in our society. He said we are very backward in the field of education there are many flaws in our educational system that needs an urgent and immediate address and focus.
He further added about the role of women in our society, women are one of the main pillar in education, such project will contribute further that adolescent girls also get a equitable access to education, and it is necessary that such project should be launched in more areas of far flung UCs, that maximum community get benefited. At the end, He wishes for the success of project.
Finally, to conclude the session, SPO Board member, Dr Taj Baloch, thanked all the participants specially district administration and representatives from education department. He further thanked SPO team, Project Coordinator Mehrab Baloch, project Officers, Arshad Akram, Arman, Mansha and Nadia for organizing this event and wishing ahead for its success.