In a significant move to reform education and create a more inclusive learning environment, the Sindh government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has launched a five-year multi-sectoral roadmap aimed at removing barriers to education and addressing the broader socio-economic challenges that hinder children’s learning.
The announcement was made in Karachi, during a high-level meeting chaired by Sindh Education Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah. The session brought together key stakeholders from the health, social protection, education, and climate sectors, reflecting a united front to tackle the deep-rooted issues affecting school access and learning outcomes in the province.
At the heart of the roadmap lies a commitment to early childhood development, with a strong push for birth registration, which is often the first barrier many children face in accessing education. Without legal identity, thousands of children across Sindh remain invisible in the system—unable to enroll in schools, access healthcare, or benefit from social services.
The roadmap doesn’t stop at the school gates. It recognizes that education outcomes are closely tied to wider societal factors, such as child labor, malnutrition, gender inequality, and political instability. By adopting a multi-sectoral strategy, the initiative aims to integrate services across departments to ensure children not only get into school but stay there and thrive.
Minister Shah emphasized that this is not just an education sector challenge but a provincial development challenge. “You cannot educate a hungry child, nor can a child learn while working in the fields or factories,” he noted, pointing to the critical need for systemic support in improving learning conditions.
UNICEF praised the initiative, stating that Sindh is setting an example for other provinces by addressing education through the lens of human rights, social justice, and cross-sector collaboration. Their representatives highlighted that inclusive education cannot be achieved unless all children—especially those from marginalized communities—have equitable access to learning opportunities from the earliest years.
The roadmap also prioritizes investment in teacher training, safe school infrastructure, and resilience against climate change, which has increasingly disrupted school operations through floods and extreme weather events in recent years.
According to officials, data monitoring and accountability mechanisms will be embedded in the plan to track progress and adapt strategies as needed. Regular multi-stakeholder reviews will ensure that the roadmap remains dynamic and responsive to emerging challenges.
This five-year roadmap marks a turning point in Sindh’s education strategy. It sends a clear message that education is not just a classroom issue—it’s a societal responsibility. If implemented with consistency and collaboration, this initiative could reshape the future of education for millions of children across the province.
