“We want education, and we need it the most.”
Accelerated Learning Programme rekindles hope for out-of-school girls to continue learning in flood affected districts of Punjab
Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab: Muqadas Zahra (12) and her mother Salma Qadeer (35) sit side by side to learn together at one of the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) Elementary centres, established by UNICEF in Dera Ghazi Khan, a flood-affected district of Punjab province.
The mother and daughter are elementary level students and equally keen to learn.
This is a unique initiative of UNICEF for out-of-school girls and women, who had either dropped out of school at some stage or were never ever enrolled.
Muqadas Zahra’s education was discontinued after she completed her primary education. Decades earlier, her mother had the same misfortune as there was no elementary school in her village.
“After completing fifth grade, I lost hope for studying further as there was no elementary school for girls in our village or the nearby areas,” says Muqadas. “My parents are poor and couldn’t afford sending me to the city for further education. I could not study for almost a year. I stayed home helping my mother with household chores but missed school a lot."
Muqadas got a second opportunity to realize her dream of continuing education when UNICEF piloted the ALP Elementary programme.
An ALP Elementary centre was established in her village, Imranabad.
“I am so excited to be back in school,” says Muqadas. “I am in grade 6 and hope to go to college and become a doctor one day.”
ALP Elementary centres for students of grade 6 to 8 were established by UNICEF, as part of its Flood Response Programme, in two flood-affected districts of South Punjab - Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.
Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur are among the most impoverished districts of South Punjab. With the lowest human development indicators including the highest number of out-of-school children, these districts were massively affected by the 2022 floods, which exacerbating the situation.
The ALP Elementary scheme of education is an accelerated learning programme to provide opportunity to children to complete middle schooling in 20 months, maintaining the required learning outcomes of elementary curriculum.
The ALP Elementary in Imranabad was initially established at Muqadas Zahra’s house. Later, it was shifted to the premises of the girls’ primary school in the village.
“If this center had not been established, I would have lost the opportunity to learn beyond fifth grade,” says Muqadas, which is true for all 40 females in her class.
The programme provides elementary education for out-of-school girls between the age of 10-16 and even above, whose education was disrupted due to non-availability of elementary schools in their villages.
The UNICEF-supported ALP Elementary centres are best suited to accommodate out-of-school children like Muqadas Zahra.
The students are taught Math, Urdu, English and other other subjects as per the government syllabus.
It is a flexible learning model that offers learning solutions at doorsteps addressing access and safety issues for girls.
The classroom is decorated with colourful charts, providing a pleasant and enabling learning environment to the students.
“I feel safe and happy in the centre,” says Muqadas. The teachers are friendly, and they help us learn our lessons. We also have the opportunity to play.”
Decades ago, Salma Qadeer, mother of Muqadas, also couldn’t continue studies after passing grade five. Her father was a schoolteacher and supportive of girls’ education but there was no elementary school in her village.
“After fifth grade, I could not study further, and my parents married me off,” says Salma.
“Even after marriage, I was fond of getting education but there was no opportunity as I had to take care of the family and there was no learning center or school for people of my age.”
“I couldn’t imagine that I would ever enroll in a school again, along with my daughter. When I saw young girls studying in the ALP center at our home, my interest renewed.”
“I discussed this with the teacher in the center who encouraged me to get registered. We, as a family, decided that me and Muqadas should both join the center.”
When the ALP center shifted from her home to the primary school, it became challenging for Salma to attend the classes, however, her resolve to learn was strong.
“We want education, and we need it the most,” says a determined Salma.
Salma, a mother of five children, has a supportive husband. She prepares the meal and gets the domestic chorus done before going to the center.
“I feel good about coming to the school with my daughter. My teacher Ayesha encourages me and Muqadas also helps me with homework.”
With funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), UNICEF, in collaboration with the District Education Authorities (DEAs) and its implementing partner Sanjh Preet Organization (SPO), has established eight ALP Elementary centers, four each in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts.
Education Cannot Wait (ECW) is the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. It supports and protects holistic learning outcomes – so no one is left behind.
The ALP Elementary programme rekindles a ray of hope for girls like Muqadas and women like Salma, to continue their studies.
Girls from the neighborhood including a few married women, are enrolled in the ALP Elementary center Imranabad.
“We need more ALP centers as not only the young girls but even married women want to learn,” says Salma.
“I want all my children to be educated so that they don’t have to do menial jobs and could progress in life.”
