Provincial Advocacy Seminar on “Transforming Schools into Child Friendly Spaces Inclusive of ECE in Sindh”
Children’s Global Network Pakistan in collaboration with UNICEF organized a one day Advocacy Seminar on Transforming Schools into Child Friendly Schools inclusive of ECE Spaces in Sindh on March 25, 2011 at Avari Hotel Karachi with the following objectives:

1. To advocate transformation of schools into child friendly spaces based on holistic child development approach in Sindh.
2. To increase awareness and knowledge about CFS concept inclusive of ECE of respective decision makers for further replication and promotion at district and provincial level.

The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Kaiser Bengali, Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh on Planning and Development. He was later joined by Ms. Naheed  Durrani Secretary Education and Literacy. Other participants of the seminar included EDOs (Education), focal persons’ education from the districts, Head of Bureau of Curriculum and Extension Jamshoro, Chairman Sindh Text Book Board, civil society representatives from Thatta, Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot and Sanghar and Karachi, teachers and students.
Dr. Kaiser Bengali in his address said the basic focus should be on improving the infrastructure of the schools and giving them such a software that will help grow and flourish into institutions that the children would want to go to instead of made to go to. He feels that the principles of the schools should take more responsibility of the performance of the students and stressed on the need for specialist tutors to be trained to understand the process of brain development of the children. It is not going to be an overnight change but we must keep at it and remarkable results can be achieved if the government and the private sector work in partnership.
Ms. Naheed Durrani in her address gave a brief presentation about education scenario of Sindh and shared the fact and figures of current situation of Education Sector in Sindh. She said 4.4 million children in Sindh are out of school. She said due to poverty children are unable to go to schools in most of the circumstances. There is deterioration in learning levels and chances for meeting the global targets are highly challenging. Some of the reasons cited for this included multi grade teaching, week school management and unfriendly attitude of the teachers. She said only increase in budget is not the solution the governance has to be strong and accountable too. She further said that no where the constitution says that the government has to do everything. Civil Societies realizing there role should also come forward and help government in its efforts.
The other speakers also highlighted the importance of reforming the education sector in order meet the global targets.