‘Early learning opportunities imperative for children’s development’

Islamabad: Education advocate Mehnaz Akber Aziz said on Wednesday that early learning opportunities were essential for children’s development to help them thrive in life.

"I am pleased to see your commitment not only to the foundational learning of children but also to creating safe spaces [for them] free from corporal punishment,” said Ms Mehnaz Akber Aziz, a former lawmaker who was behind legislation against physical disciplining of children in schools, during a special event hosted by the Cities for Children for its 'Seekho Sikhao Saathi' programme with the Federal Directorate of Education at the Islamabad Model College for Girls, F-8/1, here.

The participants included representatives of the federal education ministry, FDE, donor organisations, civil society, and Islamabad's 10 schools participating in the programme. The event celebrated the girl leaders of learning, their creative efforts, and their own valuable gains in terms of self-confidence, agency, empathy, and relationship skills.

Cities for Children is an initiative for furthering the cause of the right to a childhood, according to its founder Madeeha Ansari. She said the CfC shared innovative practices to enhance children's motivation to learn and attend school, and that was particularly important in the context of unprecedented numbers of out-of-school children and high dropout rates in education in the country.

"Our flagship programme Seekho Sikhao Saathi started off as a response to pandemic school closures. Based on a child-to-child model, it trains older children, tapping their agency to become education champions by delivering playful early learning sessions to groups of younger children," she said.

Ms Madeeha said the programme built crucial foundational skills in younger children and socioemotional skills in older girls to navigate life, making them partners in learning. She said the CfC expanded the Seekho Sikhao Saathi programme and partnered with the FDE to conduct a series of playful-learning based sessions in Islamabad's 10 public sector schools.

"Through this programme, we trained girls in grades 6-7 to become champions of learning in their own schools for younger children in grades Prep and 1," she said. Shayan Mujeeb, programme officer at Cities for Children, said: “It was a privilege to witness the girls grow into confident leaders and make independent decisions, all while teaching little children with love and empathy.”

Sadia Malik of the Malala Fund, an international organisation promoting girls' education, emphasised the significance of a holistic education and the importance of investing in girls. "We [Cities for Children] work to support the learning and well-being of children living in urban poverty. Our main goal is to protect the children's right to read and play in safety," she said.