The Government of Sindh will receive nearly Rs. 2.2 billion (€10 million) from the European Union (EU) to help the province’s education programs be more effectively implemented.
This is the second installment of a grant worth 42 million dollars that the European Union made available through budget assistance for the Development through Enhanced Education Program (DEEP).
For all children in the Sindh province, this direct financial support opens doors to accelerated access to high-quality education, laying the groundwork for future training, skill development, and participation in productive employment.
With a focus on priority reform areas in governance, enrolment, and teaching quality, the program is entirely in line with the Sindh School Education Sector Plan & Roadmap 2019–2024. To help the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department (SELD) better plan, administer, and provide high-quality, equitably distributed education, UNICEF offers supplemental technical assistance.
The Sindh Minister of Education, Mr. Syed Sardar Ali Shah, highlighted, “Education continues to be one of the key priority areas for the Government of Sindh. We aim at improving access to equitable, inclusive and quality education for all to realize their fullest potential and contribute to the development of society and economy, thus creating sense of nationhood, inculcating values of tolerance, social justice and democracy. SELD has come a long way in remodeling the edifice of education in collaboration with the Donors, development partners and civil society. The contribution of European Union in the shape of Development through Enhanced Education with budgetary support allocation of €42 million is quite commendable. This will not only help in carry out the activities of Education Sector plan 2019-24, but also bring forth the quality education in Sindh.”
Dr. Riina Kionka, the European Union’s ambassador to Pakistan, commented on the issue, stating that “education and learning are essential to progress and growth. We commend the Government of Sindh’s most recent reform implementation efforts, which include an updated policy on school clustering, a model for teachers’ ongoing professional development, and a rise in the digitization of monitoring systems.
A lot more has to be done, though, as there are an estimated 6 million kids who are not in school, with more girls than boys. In order to raise the standard of education and guarantee access for all boys and girls in the province, the European Union continues to be a committed partner to the Government of Sindh.
The European Union’s support for primary and secondary education is a priority area under the European Union-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan, which serves as a guide for bilateral relations between the two sides and aims to further enhance engagement and work towards addressing emerging global challenges.
