Underprivileged kids get a sporting opportunity

Published in Pakistan Observer initially

Sana Jamal

Islamabad – Until recently school only meant books and homework for the kids of an open-air school in F-6/3 Islamabad. But now they have discovered a new and exciting way of learning through sport and play. “This is the first time I am playing football, learning game rules and enjoying it more than the lessons in books” 14-year-old Farhat Abbas explained excitedly.

A child shows off his football skills to his colleagues
at a summer camp in Islamabad.

The week-long free summer camp for neglected kids was held at Ayub Park School, managed by Master Mohammad Ayub for the last 28 years, where over 260 kids are studying for free. Master Ayub told this scribe that it was for the time an organization has arranged a play activity in his school. “I can imagine how important it is for kids with little or no resources to remain engage in some kind of physical activity.”

Children’s Film Festival captivates Islamabad

86 Brilliant films from 32 Countries

Sana Jamal

To celebrate the world cultures, a first-of-its-kind Children's Film Festival was arranged in the capital city that was an absolute treat for the kids, and film buffs. For children, the festivity was a doorway to the magical world of films that sprinkled little magic, heroism, laughter, honesty that our lives are lacking. The films filled them with hope that things will get better, good can vanquish evil and inspired kids to make all their dreams, however scary, a reality.

Kids discover Joys of Reading & Writing at Literary Fest

First-ever Children’s Literature Festival in Islamabad 

Sana Jamal

Islamabad - Braving a burning sun and intense heat wave, hundreds of children arrived at the first-ever Islamabad Children's Literary Festival to celebrate the wonders of literature. Tales of remarkable characters and traditions, playful puppets, ancient art of pottery Making as well as films, music and theatre shows took the kids on an enchanting journey of knowledge.

Featuring various interactive readings, discussions and workshops by famous children’s authors and poets in addition to book launches, book fairs, creative writing and book-making, the first-day of the Literary Fest was a day packed with literature geared for kids from play-school to college level. The festival was also a chance to connect young readers and authors. Young ones were seen going from author to artist to illustrator, eager to learn the craft of storytelling and painting.

First Islamabad Literature Festival: City gleams with Intellectual Energy

Sana Jamal

ISLAMABAD – Day one of the Islamabad Literature Festival (ILF) was an eventful day that brought numerous writers and readers together to celebrate literature in all its delightful forms. Though a literary fest in reality, but there was something for all ages, including book fair and book launches, discussions, readings, poetry recitals, theatre etcetera.

Capital city seemed to gleam with intellectual energy as First Islamabad Literary Festival, on Tuesday, gathered and celebrated authors writing in diverse languages, genres and traditions. Organized by Oxford University Press (OUP), the two-day festival will see 70 speakers and around 35 sessions at Margala Hotel in Islamabad.

Instilling a love for reading among Pakistanis was the basic idea behind the literary festival, said Ameena Saiyid, OUP Managing Director. Instead of a common system or syllabus, what we need is “teacher training, improving curriculum and providing children better quality books to encourage the reading habit” she said. Asif Farrukhi, co-founder of the literary festival, said that literature remains the medium to express the society's feelings and status.

Graduation Ceremony: Golden day for SAS graduates

Sana Jamal

Islamabad – Excitement and cheer filled the air, with smiling faces everywhere as the proud graduates walked up on stage in their academic regalia to receive their hard-earned degrees on graduation day. The graduation ceremony of the girl students of Saudi Arabian School (SAS) in Islamabad was a joyous occasion – a gathering of graduates, parents, teachers, family and friends to celebrate the achievements of class of 2013. 

Experts highlight Digital Divide in Rural Pakistan

Sana Jamal

Islamabad - Pakistani youth have made a remarkable move in social media interaction but the urban and rural digital divide keeps them far from making any collective progress in society. The participants at a seminar held in Islamabad on Thursday concluded that the popular use of social media has turned urban Pakistanis into internet activists, but the benefits of the new media have failed to reach the masses. 

To explore the possibilities for social media as a tool for collaboration to bridge digital inequalities, a seminar was organized by Centre for Civic Education Pakistan (CCEP) and attended by media professionals and social media experts to coincide with World Press Freedom Day. The journalists of the modern era expressed mixed views on the use of social media for their journalistic duties. Participants pointed out that one reason for limited use of social media by traditional journalists is that the new media is not accessible in local content and local language.

Informal-school offers Hope to down-trodden Children

Sana Jamal

Islamabad - Deep inside the small town of Rawalpindi, Pir Wadhai where the roads are rough and surrounded with heaps of garbage, there is a place for the working children where they can relax, learn and play. Among them is an 8- year-old girl, Kiran, a regular garbage-picker but she dreams of having a big beautiful house of her own. Her dream to bring a visible change in her family’s lifestyle seems a little closer to reality after attending last six weeks in a rare classroom where she is learning Urdu, English and also sewing. “I have a dream of living in a beautiful house with my family” said Kiran in a softened voice. 

Kiran is one of the many kids who come to attend 3-hour schooling daily at Children Drop-in Centre managed by Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) and financed by a German NGO, Kindernothilfe (KNH) in Fauji colony at Pir Wadhai where the marginalised children of society are offered an opportunity to dream of a better future. 

US initiative on Education may soften strain ties

USAID signs 7 MoUs with Pak Universities

Sana Jamal 

Islamabad - While Pakistan-United States strategic relations continue to remain strained, cooperation in the field of education continues to grow. To reaffirm the support, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed on Wednesday between seven universities of Pakistan and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The signing ceremony took place at the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the presence of Vice Chancellors of the seven universities. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Karen Freeman, USAID Deputy Director for Pakistan, acknowledged that “Pakistan and the United States have enjoyed a long and productive relationship that spans more than 60 years and covers a variety of fields.. The MoU signing ceremony is yet another expression of the U.S. Government’s long- term commitment to help build a stronger, more prosperous Pakistan.” 

The $15 million construction initiative is aimed at building new faculty of Education buildings at the Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University in Quetta; the Hazara University in Mansehra; the University of Education in Lahore; the University of Sindh in Hyderabad; the University of Karachi (KU) in Karachi; and the Shah Abdul Latif University in Khairpur (Sindh) and renovation of the Institute of Education and Research at the University of the Punjab. The construction contract has been awarded to CDM Constructors Inc. 

In a cheerful mood and pleasant environment, the representatives of the universities keenly discussed the educational problems while explaining their case for additional support from U.S. and appreciating Pak-U.S. collaboration in education sector. The professors compared the quality of education with quality of life, and hoped that the initiative would help in improving the teacher education. “Unfortunately, a large number of teachers in Pakistan are in teaching profession by chance and not by choice”, observed Dr. Pirzada Qasim, Vice Chancellor of KU. 

“The program will be beneficial in training the best young minds to the teaching profession and also help revise the curriculum” he said. Dr. Javaid Laghari, Chairman of the HEC appreciated the efforts to improve the quality of education across the country. T

he new facilities would support the implementation of two new degree programs, a four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Education (B.Ed.) and a two-year Associate Degree in Education (ADE) designed by Pakistani scholars to increase the quality of teacher preparation at colleges and universities. Additionally, the new buildings would be used for the continuing education of practicing teachers. “The construction will take place over the next two year and the new facilities will eventually house approximately 2,000 students and 100 faculty members each year” informed Karen.

Unknown heroes of Pakistani Youth

Published in Pakistan Observer (12 Aug 2011)
Sana Jamal

Islamabad - “Change Our World” – the message of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for World Youth Day (Aug 12), is more than a theme; it is an idea to inspire young people at all times. The theme rightly befits the young Pakistani men and women who comprise of more than 60 per cent of the total population and aspire to make a difference with their selfless contribution in the development of their society. From raising awareness and managing organizations to setting up blood banks and running schools; the youngsters, against all odds, are proving their abilities.

Mobisher Rabbani is one of the icons of Pakistan’s patriotic youth who is making every effort to promote Pakistan’s foreign policy, tourism, and culture through quiet diplomacy and using social media tools. He is the founder of ‘The Rabbani Foundation’, a philanthropic organization dedicated to humanity which has successfully carried out projects in UAE, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Philippines, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Mobisher's motto is simple: “We can begin small but why should we think small!”

‘Don’t send us back to stone age’: Students protest

Students stage a massive protest in Islamabad
Published in Pakistan Observer (13 April 2011)

Sana Jamal

ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of students and scholars took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the devolution of Higher Education Commission (HEC) and vowed to continue protests till the government shelved the plan of devolving the HEC.

The protesters gathered at Press Club Islamabad and marched to the parliament building near D-chowk waving hundreds of national flags, holding banners and placards while chanting the slogans ‘Save HEC, Save Education, Save the Pakistan’ and ‘Don’t send us back to stone age’.

As the activists reached D-chowk, the policemen prepared themselves to counter any possible undesirable incidence. However, the student protestors prepared a chain of hands in order to give an impression of an organized demonstration.

Teachers, Students protest against devolution of HEC

HEC - Victim of democratic dissolution?

Edited version published in Pakistan Observer (6 Apr. 2011)
Sana Jamal

ISLAMABAD - Ever since the Implementation Commission of the 18th Amendment to the constitution announced that several federal ministries including the education ministry were to be devolved to the provinces, certain ambiguities started surfacing in the minds of the educationists and officials.

Students chant slogans during protest
 demonstration at HEC building.
 Photo: PPI

One of the victims of this democratic move is an organization which not only created several hundred Ph.Ds for Pakistan but also earned international repute and esteem for the country. The decision of the government to dissolve the Higher Education Commission (HEC) thus generated perplexity and uncertainty not only among intellectuals but also in the civil and social society of the country.

Islamabad Knowledge City Festival: Evolving a Culture of Learning

Published in Pakistan Observer (26 Jan. 2011)
Sana Jamal

ISLAMABAD: “Knowledge for All - All for Knowledge” was the slogan of the first ever ‘Islamabad Knowledge City Festival’ which concluded on Tuesday, attracting a marvelous response from the knowledge lovers of the twin cities during the week long activities at convention center.

The festival organised by the Ministry of Education and its affiliated organisation, National Book Foundation (NBF) was an effort to make federal capital a hub of knowledge and a model education city for the whole country as Islamabad has the highest literacy rate in the country i.e. 85 per cent.

Pakistan Girls Education Initiative (PGEI) launched

Published in Pakistan Observer (10 Dec. 2010)

Sana Jamal

Islamabad - Enhancement in education budget, equity and gender equality of education are desired for correcting the present imbalance in education scenario. These were the remarks of the speakers at the launching ceremony of UN “Pakistan Girls Education Initiative (UNGEI)” at Pakistan National Council of Arts on Thursday. The event was jointly organized by Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration with National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), UNICEF and UK Department For International Development (DFID).

UAE Day celebrated at SZIA

Published in Pakistan Observer on 8 Dec. 2010

Sana Jamal

ISLAMABAD: Students of Sheikh Zayed International Academy (SZIA), Islamabad enthralled the audience with sparkling set of traditional dances and vibrant performances to mark 39th anniversary of United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Day in Pakistan.

Playgroup children waving flags of UAE and signing poem.

Role of Media stressed in Education Policy

Printed in Pak. Observer on 30th Sept. 2010.

Islamabad— Media and civil professionals on Tuesday attended a rare Seminar at the ‘Media and Civil Society Collaboration Workshop’ in Islamabad. The speakers proposed an alliance between media and education activists to improve the dismal state of Education sector in Pakistan. The Workshop was organized by Pakistan Coalition for Education (PCE) and sponsored by Open Society Institute.

A number of local journalists and education experts representing various organizations attended the one-day workshop.