Publications
Summary of publication
This document is a mid-term review of the Early Childhood Development Program, a three-year project managed by the Aga Khan Foundation (Pakistan) and implemented by three local NGOs in three districts of Balochistan with the technical support of Aga Khan University. The project aims to enhance access, equity and quality of education with increased gender parity by improving the safety, quality and accessibility of the physical learning environment, increasing enrolment and retention of children (particularly girls), increasing community participation in school management, professional development of teachers and head teachers, improving educational leadership and mentoring skills of head and lead teachers and educational managers, and strengthening governance and management in the Department of Education. The project provides professional development support to schools clustered around Resource Schools.
The project operates in a high risk environment, including major governance and management problems in the education system, severe political and sectarian violence, and bureaucratic governmental delays. The report finds that excellent progress has been made on girls' enrolment, training of female heads, LTs and teachers, and providing ECD sessions to mothers. Good progress has also been made on monitoring and evaluation and relevance to the priorities of the Australian and Pakistani government.