ISLAMABAD – The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the World Food et Programme (WFP) will contribute about $27 million to accelerate girls’ enrolment in primary schools in Pakistan. Under an agreement signed in Islamabad on September 8, between the a two bodies, the WFP would be 0 contributing $18.1 million and d Unicef $8.9 million to accelerate girls’ enrolment in 1,068 primary schools in nine districts of the country.
WFP’s German Valdiv and Unicef representative Omar Abdi signed the agreement. UN resident coordinator Onder Yucer was also present. Mr Yucer said the signing of the agreement on the International Day of Literacy had a special significance for all UN agencies and partners. “It forges us together to translate United Nations development assistance framework and the millennium development goals into indicators of social developÂment.”
Highlighting’ the significance of the agreement, the WFP representative said: “A girl with school is a girl with future. The WFP is committed to providing this opportunity to help girls in rural areas realize this dream.” Collaboration between stakeÂholders is a step towards ensuring thousands of girls completing quality education, said the Unicef representative while stressing on the access to quality right education as basic children.
As an incentive, they would provide a four-litre edible oil to each of the primary school girls and teachers minimum of 20 to 22 days attendance respectively to in enrolment and reduce dropouts and absentees. Unicef will support teachers training and provide basic teaching and learning material improves the quality of education.
The joint efforts are expected to result in enrolment, retention and completion of approximately 175,000 additional girls with benefits extended to an estimated 250,000 girls currently attending primary schools.
Source: Dawn
Date:9/9/2004
