UNHCR provided direct support to a total of 54,111 Afghan children (39% girls) enrolled in 145 schools (102 in KP, 35 in Balochistan and 8 in Punjab) in refugee villages in KP, Balochistan and Punjab. The shift from the Afghan to the Pakistani curriculum continues to advance in RVs and is on track having started from grade KG (pre-primary) with the last grade 5 to be transitioned to Pakistan curriculum in September 2021.
Given this transition, 103 additional volunteer teachers were hired for two months in January-February 2020, to facilitate the learning process in RV schools by providing extra coaching classes to students.
In connection to this, the Provincial Institute for Teachers Education (PITE) in Balochistan carried out comprehensive teacher training and refresher courses for Afghan refugee teachers to enhance their capacity in facilitating the inclusion of refugee children into the national education system. One of the key reasons for this transition is to allow Afghan students to access continuous and higher education opportunities while in Pakistan.
From students’ formative assessment scores, UNHCR gleaned that coaching classes it supported had a positive impact on students’ learning. UNHCR rigorously participated in planning meetings for the development of a five-year provincial level national education sector plan. Afghan refugee children were included in the Education Sector Plan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Sector Plan 2020/2021- 2024/2025). In 2020, school textbooks were procured through UNHCR funds. However, towards the end of 2020 free textbooks from Department of Education for all Afghan children in RV schools were secured for 2021-22 session.
Due to COVID-19, schools were closed from 13 March 2020 to 5 October 2020; nonetheless, UNHCR through the partners continued to remain in touch with communities and all students were promoted to next grades. After the schools’ re-opening, the consolidated curriculum academic plans/ calendars developed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa education department were shared with RV schools’ teachers for use with students to overcome the loss of learning. At community assisted RV schools 93 teachers and 79 watchmen were provided cash support from May-August 2020 as result of COVID-19 schools’ closure.
The assessment of 33 home-based girls’ schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was conducted with 18 schools converted to Accelerated Learning Pathway centres. The centres were issued new codes and the enrolment of girls was revised according to the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) standard age limit. 18 ALP Teachers and 3 ALP staff were trained on ALP curriculum through Provincial Institute for Teachers Education (PITE) in collaboration with UNICEF.
Textbooks, uniforms, lap desks, school bags, stationery items as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) were procured and distributed to all children in UNHCR-supported schools, which helped to improve the quality of education and learning environment.