Rs300m distance learning project yet to start

ISLAMABAD: A project of Unesco and Italian government for provision of education learning in six districts of Pakistan has not yet commenced despite passing of three months period.

The project is going to expire in September 2025, but so far, it could not witness implementation stage.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), in collaboration with Italian development agency, have been financing a project for distance learning in six far-flung districts with an estimated cost of Rs300 million. But so far, process of hiring partner organisations has not yet been accomplished.

Amidst severe economic challenges Pakistan facing, including heavy tax burdens and persistent IMF programmes, education sector also struggles with over 28.6 million children out-of-school in the country. There are multiple issues of quality, access and affordability which have significantly contributed to this alarming statistic.

The process of hiring partner organisations needs to be undertaken in a transparent manner to ensure effective service delivery and fulfilling obligations of ensuring quality education access to out-of-school children.

This project titled “Radio Education: Promoting Learning through Radio in Isolated Areas of Pakistan” is funded by Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) with grant money of 1 million euros. The implementation agency will be Unesco.

This scribe sent out question to both Unesco and Italian Embassy in Islamabad and inquired about fate of this project. The written reply from Unesco’s spokesperson stated this project is funded by Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by Unesco.

It further stated this initiative, developed in response to educational challenges amplified by Covid-19 pandemic, seeks to improve access to quality education for children in marginalised areas through Interactive Radio Instruction (IRI).

By broadcasting educational content aligned with approved national curriculum, the project emphasises themes, such as education for sustainable development, global citizenship education, and seeks to encourage foundational literacy and numeracy, life skills and promotion of cultural heritage.

The project was kicked off on September 18, 2024, targeting six underserved districts — Loralai in Balochistan, Mohmand, Kohistan, and Swat in KP, Diamer and Gupis-Yasin in Gilgit-Baltistan.

This initiative addresses challenge of out-of-school children (OOSC) by offering cost-effective and accessible learning opportunities through radio, particularly in areas with limited educational infrastructure. The objective is to provide children and youth with essential learning opportunities, encouraging their possible transition to formal education systems.

The selection of local implementation partners is underway. Unesco is conducting this process in accordance with its established procurement procedures to ensure chosen partner possesses requisite technical expertise and capacity for effective implementation.

Unesco is collaborating closely with national and local governments to align the project with their priorities, ensuring both sustainability and scalability, the spokesperson concluded.