Swat Kohistan Education Program (SKEP)

Project Title: Non-formal Primary Education for Vulnerable Children

Program Time Frame: Duration: 03 Year [from April, 2006 to March 2009]

Program Area: Primary Education (Non-formal)

Goal: “Vulnerable children have improved access to quality education in targeted areas.”

Strategic Objective # 1: Vulnerable Children have an opportunity to complete primary education in target areas.

Strategic Objective # 2: Vulnerable children have improved quality of education in target areas.

Direct Participants: 525 School Age Going Children; 15 Teachers; 50 PTAs; 15 Non-formal Schools

Administrative Region: NWFP (Swat)
Implementing Partner: Pakistan Village Development Program

Evaluation Schedule: First Year Evaluation: September 2006


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

CRS Pakistan is presenting this project proposal on education entitled “Non-Formal Education for Vulnerable Children”. CRS seeks to address the problem that vulnerable children do not have access to quality education. This proposal focused on marginalized children that have dropped out of school or never attended school.

CRS will launch its non-formal education program in 2006, through community based schools in underserved areas, focusing on access and quality for girls and boys. CRS and implementing partner will address the issues affecting access and quality of education in vulnerable areas by supporting community-based non-formal schools. This would not be a parallel structure to formal education but a bridge to fill the gap and limitations of formal education. The vital thrust of this program is active participation of targeted communities. That is dynamic and regular involvement in daily school matters and supervisory role through PTAs/CBOs.

CRS Pakistan believes that access to education cannot make a marked impact on communities and society at large; unless quality imparted through schools is an agreed value for all partners. The capacity building component will mainly focus on teacher training, to provide quality services; demonstrate innovative methodologies and approaches, improving children’s learning and ensuring primary school retention in target areas. The capacity building component would include school administrators, PTAs and field staff to strengthen outreach program. The proposed project implementation is based on establishment of 15 non-formal schools with 525 students. Under capacity building 50 teachers (15 CBS & 35 government) will be trained in participatory teaching methodologies. Teachers Capacity Building will have the following basic components; participatory teaching methodology, schools and classroom management, lesson planning, production of low cost teaching aids, community participation, subject knowledge. A PTA will be organized for each school and trained on its roles and responsibilities.

CRS will act as the lead organization and will work closely with the implementing partner to ensure program quality. CRS is well equipped to understand and provide quality education services to Pakistani vulnerable communities through national staff and international consultants. CRS has a decade of experience in education and had supported almost 14 partners for formal education, non-formal education, functional literacy and capacity building under various aspects. CRS contribution will be technical and financial support which will cover administrative and operational costs.

CRS will work closely with local partners to involve all major education stockholders in the community, to ensure the sustainability and quality of community schools. Sustainability will be ensured through quality education. That is the standard of education and environment which will attract more and more families to send their children to schools.

A careful monitoring plan will form part of the project implementation. This will be accompanied by intensive presence of the project staff in field. CRS will organize an evaluation for official review at the end of the project.

The budget for this intervention is $43,488 USD, funded with private money. Project per student cost is USD $30 for one year as primary will be completed within three years. CRS looks forward to working with communities to provide access to quality education for vulnerable children.

TARGETING AND BENEFICIARIES:

PVDP in consultation with other important stakeholders identified the following geographic areas. PVDP has its regional office in Swat to execute various other projects and has developed long term relations with the department of education and communities.
NFE project will be implemented in two sub-tehsils of Swat district that would include 5 Union Councils (Madyan, Bahrain, Mankial Tirat and Fatepur) of Upper Swat-Kohistan in selected villages following a demand responsive methodology and approach. School may remain open during snow fall season in these selected localities. The major reasons for selecting district Swat have been reflected in problem analysis submitted by PVDP earlier.

Female education in district Swat and particularly in Swat-Kohistan has received little or no priority. The 87% rural population of Swat Kohistan has hardly any access to basic amenities of life including education. For a population 1258,000 (with more than 50% female) and with a growth rate of 3.7 there are only 485 girls primary schools with 1342 teachers compared to 836 for boys with 4107 teachers. The reported enrollment in these schools is 38,691 girls and 98,061 boys respectively. Roughly 30% of these schools are closed and non-functional due to various reasons mention under problem tree. PVDP decides to work with 15 schools during 2006.
Beneficiaries

Targeted beneficiaries of the proposed project would be children out of school due to various reasons mentioned above in problem identification section. The total number of students to be reached is 600 Girls & Boys (age 9-14 years) in 15 CBSs. The total number of teachers to be trained is 15 non-formal school teachers. Each school will have one PTA consisting of 8-10 members. This unit will make up the executive body. All the parents will be part of the general body.

Indirect beneficiaries would not include only the immediate families of the students but government education department, non-governmental organizations, Union Councils and bilateral projects will benefit to learn from the project achievements and replicate similar community based sustainable models in their own partner communities.